Articles by Dominique Patton | Manitoba Co-operator

No pigging out on pork delicacies for China this Lunar New Year

By Dominique Patton, Sophie Yu January 24, 2020

For Xu, a mother and wife from central China, losing her family’s entire pig herd to African swine fever almost meant not serving the cured pork, known as la rou, and dried sausage central to her Lunar New Year meals. “I wasn’t going to make any this year, but then my son said, ‘Ma, I

Hogs, Markets

China to waive tariffs on some U.S. soybeans, pork

Goodwill gesture is aimed at helping soothe ongoing trade tensions between the two nations

By Dominique Patton, Yawen Chen December 9, 2019

China has confirmed that it will waive import tariffs for some soybeans and pork shipments from the United States, as the two sides try to thrash out a broader agreement to defuse their protracted trade war. The tariff waivers were based on applications by individual companies, the Finance Ministry said in a statement, citing a

A truck unloads soybeans imported from Brazil on the quay of a port in Nantong city, east China’s Jiangsu province.

Markets, Oilseeds

Chinese importers scoop up Brazilian soybeans

Uncertainty over a U.S.-China trade deal has been causing buyers to lock up supplies

By Dominique Patton, Hallie Gu December 9, 2019

Chinese buyers scooped up at least 20 cargoes of Brazilian soybeans last week as uncertainty over a trade deal with the United States sent them rushing to lock in supplies, traders said Nov. 25. Importers also jumped on the new-crop Brazilian beans because of attractive margins, said two traders who declined to be identified. The purchases were for

China, France sign deals worth $15 bln during visit

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News November 6, 2019

Beijing | Reuters – China and France signed contracts totalling $15 billion during a visit by President Emmanuel Macron, a Chinese government official told a news briefing on Wednesday. Deals were struck in the fields of aeronautics, energy and agriculture, including approval for 20 French companies to export poultry, beef and pork to China. They also agreed to expand

Crops, Markets

Trump’s hailing of Chinese farm purchases seen as ‘meaningless’

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News October 14, 2019

Beijing | Reuters — China is still a long way from forking out US$50 billion for farm goods from the United States, agriculture industry analysts said on Monday, cautioning that getting there is contingent on removing substantial technical and political hurdles. Outlining the first phase of a deal to end a trade war with China,

Workers sit on a bed next to ducks at a farm in Jiaxiang county, Shandong province, China.

International news, Livestock

China’s duck farmers cash in as ASF disease slashes pork output

Cost-conscious catering firms are switching to supply schools and factories

By Dominique Patton August 14, 2019

Reuters – On a 30-hectare (74-acre) plot of land in China’s Shandong province poultry hub, more than half a million white-feathered ducks are busy eating, chattering and laying eggs to produce cheap meat for thousands of factory canteens. With birds already packed into around 60 open-sided buildings, farm owner Shenghe Group is expanding further, aiming

The African swine fever virus has reached every province in China.

Hogs, International news

China’s pig farms clean up to beat swine fever

Industry sees improved biosecurity in farms, transport as sales of disinfectants, truck washes soar

By Dominique Patton July 30, 2019

Reuters – A devastating outbreak of African swine fever that has killed millions of pigs in China is changing attitudes in a country where farm hygiene has often been seen as lax by international standards. From farms to feed mills to transport, people involved in the pork industry say biosecurity has been tightened, with sales

Hogs, Livestock

China to suspend pork imports from Quebec processor

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News, Hallie Gu June 18, 2019

Beijing | Reuters — China will block pork imports from a third Canadian firm after a shipment was found to contain the banned feed additive ractopamine, the customs agency said on Tuesday, deepening a trade and diplomatic dispute with Canada. The firm in question is Frigo Royal, the agency said on its Wechat account. Ractopamine

Crops, Markets

China’s ban on Canadian canola expands to Viterra

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News, Julie Gordon March 26, 2019

Beijing/Ottawa | Reuters — China expanded its ban on Canadian canola seed imports on Tuesday to include shipments from Viterra, the latest development in a wider trade dispute between the two countries. Viterra is the second canola exporter to have its registration cancelled, after Beijing halted shipments from top exporter Richardson International earlier this month.

Hogs, Livestock, Markets

China’s pork imports seen doubling in 2019 on swine fever impact

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News, Hallie Gu March 22, 2019

Wuzhen, China | Reuters — China’s 2019 pork imports are set to double from last year to two million tonnes, a Rabobank analyst said on Thursday, as African swine fever hits production of the meat in the world’s top hog market. China has reported 113 outbreaks of the contagious disease since last August, though farmers

JBS to buy U.S. meat processor Empire Packing

Grain Commission’s chief announces retirement

Tile drainpipe supplier AccuPipe changes hands

GFM Network News