China to promote soy, corn intercropping

China’s Agriculture Ministry will promote intercropping of soybeans with corn on more than one million hectares of land this year, seeking to boost output of the oilseed without reducing production of corn. China, the world’s top soybean importer, said late last year that increasing its output of the oilseed was a political priority, but it

Germany plans state animal welfare label on meat in shops

Germany plans state animal welfare label on meat in shops

Germany’s new government plans this year to introduce proposals for a state system to label meat in shops produced with improved animal welfare, German Agriculture Minister Cem Oezdemir said. The proposal is part of the coalition agreement for Germany’s new government which took office in December involving the Social Democratic, Green and Liberal parties. A


Tracy Robinson. (TCEnergy.com)

CN names new CEO, easing tussle with investor

Former CP executive Tracy Robinson returns to rail

Reuters — Canadian National Railway on Tuesday named industry veteran Tracy Robinson as its new chief executive officer, soothing a months-long tussle with its second-largest shareholder over leadership at the railroad operator. Robinson will replace Jean-Jacques Ruest, who announced his decision to step down from the role in October following investor demands for his exit

Brazil’s BRF, Saudi fund set up poultry joint venture

Brazilian chicken and pork processor BRF SA signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund to create a joint venture to make poultry products in the Middle Eastern country, it said Jan. 13. BRF said in a securities filing it will hold a 70 per cent stake in the joint venture, while Saudi


China to produce 40 per cent more soybeans by 2025

China to produce 40 per cent more soybeans by 2025

China said it would raise domestic soybean output sharply in the next four years, in a drive to boost self-sufficiency in supply of the oilseed, according to an official document released on Jan. 13. The country has set a goal to produce about 23 million tonnes of soybeans by end of 2025, up 40 per

CME February 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures surge to highest in over three months

U.S. cattle counts up from last year

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose 1.5 per cent on Friday to hit their highest since mid-October, extending a rally on technical buying. Traders remained focused on the slaughter rate as COVID-19 disruptions have caused slowdowns at meat processors throughout the month. “The industry still isn’t functioning normally, though the processing


CME February 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures touch highest since mid-October

CME cattle futures down on day

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures jumped to their highest in more than three months on Thursday, supported by strength in the cash markets, traders said. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 2.625 cents, to 84.925 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The front-month contract closed just below its session peak of 84.975

CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle and hog futures firm

Meat supplies remain tight

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and hog futures rose on Wednesday, with tight supplies supporting prices after a slowdown in the pace of slaughter. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 0.7 cent, to 82.3 cents/lb. Hog futures have risen for three days in a row, their longest streak of gains


CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures weak

Hog futures firm

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Tuesday, with mild profit-taking noted after rallying in three of the previous four sessions. Hog futures were firmer, extending their rebound from the five-week low hit last week. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 0.7 cent to 81.6 cents/lb. (all figures US$).

Employees working at a cargo ship at Tiplam terminal in Santos, Brazil in 2017.

Brazil unable to unload wheat imports as tax collectors protest

Brazil has been unable to promptly unload wheat shipments at its key Santos port as agricultural tax collectors work to rule in a campaign for higher wages, local association Abitrigo said on Jan. 6. Abitrigo’s head Rubens Barbosa told Reuters that so far two vessels carrying imported wheat had their unloading operations delayed due to