CBOT March 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans touch six-year high on Argentina strike, weather

Grains complex rebounds after stepping back on news of new coronavirus strain

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybeans climbed to six-year highs on Monday as weather and export troubles in Argentina outweighed concerns of a new coronavirus strain hitting Britain. Corn and wheat futures traded near even as soybeans supported the grains complex. Chicago Board of Trade most-active soybeans gained 23-1/2 cents to $12.47-1/2 per bushel, after


Nunavut residents wear masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Rural communities hard hit by coronavirus

From Steinbach to Shamattawa and Nunavut, rural and remote communities are suffering COVID’s worst wrath

Reuters – The coronavirus pandemic is racing through Canada’s remote and rural regions, as isolation, a crucial buffer during the first wave, left their limited health-care systems vulnerable once the virus arrived. The latest spread opens a new front for the world’s second-largest country by area as it prepares for a logistically difficult vaccination program

The halls of the Keystone Centre will remain silent this January, but the Innovation Showcase portion of Ag Days will go on this winter.

Manitoba Ag Days to host Innovation Showcase online, in print

Exhibitors and Ag Days Specials to get listing in publication, web platforms

Producers and exhibitors will still be able to interact and show off ag innovations through Manitoba Ag Days this year, albeit in a very different format. “We know we cannot physically be together this year and so our board wanted to remain committed to ag education, innovation and supporting the communities where our exhibitors and


The World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on Oct. 28, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

Ban on food aid restrictions blocked at WTO

WTO says outcome 'disappointing' in difficult year

Geneva | Reuters — World Trade Organization members were at odds on Friday over a proposal that would ban countries from restricting food aid deliveries, potentially complicating the response to a feared COVID-fuelled humanitarian catastrophe next year. The proposal was one of two related to the pandemic that failed to make headway at a three-day

(Dave Bedard photo)

Guelph beef plant idled against COVID-19 outbreak

Cattle set-aside plan en route, BFO says

Agrifood giant Cargill is temporarily halting production at its beef processing plant at Guelph, Ont. in the wake of a significant COVID-19 outbreak among employees. The company announced it would “begin the process to temporarily idle” the Dunlop Drive plant effective Thursday (Dec. 17). “This was a difficult decision for our team who are operating


(TysonFoods.com)

Tyson fires seven managers after probe into COVID-19 wagering

Employees had been suspended following lawsuit

Reuters — Tyson Foods said Wednesday it had fired seven managers at an Iowa pork plant after investigating allegations that they took bets on how many employees would catch COVID-19. The independent investigation, led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, came in response to a lawsuit filed by the son of a worker at

Tyler Kilkenny (left) and Todd Sawyer step behind the coffee bar of their giftware/coffee shop in Russell.

Small businesses face not-so-happy holiday due to pandemic

COVID-19 closures have taken a big chunk out of normal small-town holiday shopping income

It’s been a rough few weeks for Tyler Kilkenny of Russell. Kilkenny, who owns coffee shop and gift store TinHouse Designs and Coffee Co. with his partner, Todd Sawyer, would normally expect to make enough this time of year to cover a good chunk of their first quarter in 2021. Like most retailers, November and


File photo of uncooked chicken wings. (Mimadeo/iStock/Getty Images)

COVID outbreak shuts Nova Scotia poultry plant

Province closes Eden Valley for at least two weeks

Provincial officials have temporarily shut a chicken and turkey slaughter and processing plant in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, citing recent cases of COVID-19 among employees. Eden Valley Poultry’s processing plant at Berwick will be closed “for at least two weeks,” the provincial health department said in a release Friday. “We know this will be a

Minks at a farm near Soroe in Denmark on Nov. 5, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen)

Minks, staff positive for COVID-19 at B.C. mink farm

Coronavirus found in eight workers, five mink so far

A mink farm in southwestern British Columbia’s Fraser Valley is now under provincial veterinary quarantine and its staff self-isolating after several animals and workers tested positive for COVID-19. Fraser Valley Health, the regional health authority for the area, on Sunday declared an outbreak at the farm after eight workers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus