Rome | Reuters –– Italy’s government on Tuesday approved a bill banning the use of laboratory-produced food and animal feed as it aims to safeguard the country’s agri-food heritage, its agriculture minister told a news conference after a cabinet meeting. If the proposal is passed by parliament, Italian industry will not be allowed to produce
Italy moves to ban lab-grown food in drive to protect tradition
Ag lobby praises government move; angry reactions from food companies, animal rights groups
U.S. grains: Soybeans, wheat gain on planting doubts
CBOT corn steadies
Reuters — U.S. wheat and soybean futures closed higher on Tuesday and corn closed nearly flat as traders had doubts about planting delays and adverse weather with an eye toward a key U.S. crop seedings report at the end of the week. Traders squared positions as they looked ahead to Friday’s annual U.S. Agriculture Department
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures top two-week highs
Chicago lean hog futures ease
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures topped another two-week high on Tuesday before finishing slightly firmer, while lean hog futures ended lower. Technical buying helped support gains in cattle, as the market has rebounded after nearing a two-month low last week, brokers said. A smaller U.S. cattle herd is also supportive
Interest-free cash advances get extra lift in federal budget
Fertilizer diversification, solids non-fat processing also up for funding
Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s latest budget envelope for Canadian farmers up against rising costs of production includes a temporary boost to the interest-free portion of cash advances. Freeland’s 2023 federal budget, released Tuesday, includes $13 million in 2023-24 for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to temporarily increase the interest-free limit for loans under its Advance
Pulse weekly outlook: For growers, spring still far away
Just 'minor changes' expected in Manitoba acres
MarketsFarm — Springtime still seems distant for southern Manitoba as snow remains and freezing temperatures persist. However, provincial pulse specialist Dennis Lange said current conditions are setting up well for seeding after temperatures rise and snow melts. “We’re still a little ways off. There are still snow drifts in the fields in most areas of
Food sales grew but margins tightened in 2022, FCC says
Modest further growth expected this year
Food and beverages sales increased in Canada last year, even as margins hit an historic low and consumers chose Canadian less. According to the latest FCC Food and Beverage Report, released Tuesday, sales increased 11 per cent to $156 billion in 2022. These gains came largely from higher export values and strength in the grain
Klassen: Feeder market eyes feed grain complex
Downside expected in new-crop barley prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $2 higher on average. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $353-$357/cwt delivered last week, up from the average price of $348/cwt delivered seven days earlier. Strength in the fed cattle market continues to support the
Japan lifts last of BSE-era restrictions off Canadian beef
Canadian processed beef regains access to Japan
The last of Japan’s import restrictions on Canadian beef and beef products stemming from the BSE crisis has been lifted, allowing access for Canadian further-processed beef. Canada’s federal agriculture department announced Monday that Japan has reopened to imports of “processed” Canadian beef — just days ahead of a significant reduction in Japan’s tariffs on imports
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle exceed two-week highs in rebound
Lean hogs up off last week's lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed stronger and touched their highest prices in more than two weeks on Monday as livestock markets recovered from recent losses, analysts said. The Dow and S+P 500 also ended higher, after turmoil in the banking sector recently weighed on equity and commodity markets. Cattle
France’s InVivo makes bid for United Malt
Bid would include Canada Malting business
Reuters — United Malt Group has received an indicative, non-binding offer from Malteries Soufflet, a branch of French agribusiness InVivo, the Australian commercial maltster said on Tuesday, valuing it at A$1.5 billion (C$1.36 billion). The A$5 per share offer represents a 45.3 per cent premium to United Malt’s last close of A$3.44. Trading in shares
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
