McDonald's sues major beef producers in US price-fixing lawsuit

Reuters – McDonald’s has sued JBS, Tyson Foods and other leading meat processing and packing companies for allegedly conspiring for years to limit beef supplies, boosting their profits while causing the fast food giant to pay artificially higher prices. McDonald’s said in a lawsuit filed on Friday in Brooklyn federal court that the meatpackers, also including Cargill[...]

Saputo to consolidate U.S. cheesemaking, shut three plants

The Canadian company ranked among the three biggest cheesemakers in the U.S. is preparing to consolidate five of its cheese plants in that country down to two. Montreal-based Saputo announced last Thursday it has construction underway on a new $240 million cut-and-wrap cheese plant in the Milwaukee suburb of Franklin, to be up and running[...]


U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end mostly lower

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures closed mostly lower on Monday on technical selling and worries about consumer demand for high-priced cuts of beef, traders said. Most-active CME February live cattle futures settled down 0.7 cent at 152.55 cents/lb. (all figures US$). Deferred contracts also ended lower, but the spot[...]

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firm on strong packer demand

Chicago | Reuters -- CME live cattle futures firmed on Monday, supported by strong packer demand that supported cash prices, indicating a bullish outlook for summer month futures, analysts said. "Packer behaviour has been bullish for several weeks now. They are going after the cattle," said Dennis Smith, commodity broker at Archer Financial. "I suspect[...]


U.S. livestock: CME lean hog futures tumble on uncertain pork demand

Chicago | Reuters – Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell sharply on Monday, with the benchmark October contract down its daily limit on worries about a seasonal increase in hog supplies and uncertain demand for U.S. pork, analysts said. CME October hog futures settled down 3 cents at 84.600 cents per pound,[...]

Piglets aborted, chickens gassed as pandemic slams meat sector

Chicago | Reuters -- With the pandemic hobbling the meat-packing industry, Iowa farmer Al Van Beek had nowhere to ship his full-grown pigs to make room for the 7,500 piglets he expected from his breeding operation. The crisis forced a decision that still troubles him: He ordered his employees to give injections to the pregnant[...]


Sausage-loving Germans chew over meat tax plan

Berlin | Reuters -- German lawmakers on Wednesday proposed raising the sales tax on meat to help protect the climate and improve animal welfare, kindling a debate in a country renowned for its love of sausages. Meat in Germany benefits from a reduced value added tax rate of seven per cent, and the idea is[...]

Britain outlines post-Brexit farm policy in bill

London | Reuters -- Britain will introduce legislation on Wednesday for agricultural policy after it leaves the European Union that will link support for farmers to the provision of public benefits such as tackling climate change or preserving beautiful landscapes. The Agriculture Bill, primarily covering England, will provide the basis for policy in a sector[...]