Insights and Stories on Pandemic

USDA to probe surging beef prices versus falling cattle prices

Apr. 8, 2020 at 9:11 pm CDT

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Agriculture Department will investigate why a surge in beef prices because of coronavirus-related hoarding did not translate into higher cattle prices for farmers, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Wednesday. The investigation adds scrutiny on the small group of meat companies such as Tyson […]

ICE weekly outlook: Canola market floating headline to headline

Apr. 8, 2020 at 7:47 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Pandemic to delay StatsCan’s agriculture reports

Apr. 8, 2020 at 6:51 pm CDT

By Glen Hallick - MarketsFarm

U.S. livestock: Bargain-buying investors rally cattle futures, again

Apr. 8, 2020 at 4:10 pm CDT

By P.J. Huffstutter

U.S. livestock: Futures surge as investors snap up discounts

Apr. 7, 2020 at 4:47 pm CDT

By P.J. Huffstutter

Klassen: Feeder market lacks buying interest

Apr. 7, 2020 at 4:49 am CDT

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5-$8 lower on average, with yearlings dropping as much as $10-$12 in certain areas. It appears buyers are incorporating a risk discount due to uncertainty in beef demand longer-term. Rising unemployment levels, sluggish consumer confidence and a sharp drop in […]

By Jerry Klassen

Canadian, U.S. farms face crop losses on foreign worker delays

Apr. 6, 2020 at 6:52 pm CDT

Winnipeg/Chicago | Reuters — Mandatory coronavirus quarantines of seasonal foreign workers in Canada could hurt that country’s fruit and vegetable output this year, and travel problems related to the pandemic could also leave U.S. farmers with fewer workers than usual. Foreign labour is critical to farm production in both countries, […]

By Christopher Walljasper Rod Nickel

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures drop as pandemic roils markets

Apr. 6, 2020 at 5:41 pm CDT

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures plunged to their daily trading limit on Monday — with prices for the front-month contract hitting the lowest seen since December 2009 — as beef inventories remain robust with much of the U.S. restaurant industry shuttered due to the pandemic. April live […]

By P.J. Huffstutter

Federal carbon tax rises despite opposition, pandemic

Apr. 6, 2020 at 4:54 pm CDT

Ottawa — The federal government has pushed ahead with an increase to the carbon tax despite continued calls from the agriculture sector for reprieve from the program. The price on carbon rose from $20 per tonne to $30 per tonne effective April 1. The federal Liberal government is standing firm […]

By D.C. Fraser

Canadian farmland trending less affordable in FCC report

Apr. 6, 2020 at 12:44 pm CDT

The average value of farmland in Canada is continuing to rise faster than farmers’ ability to generate revenue from it, Farm Credit Canada’s latest Farmland Values Report suggests. The report, released Monday, shows the average value of Canadian farmland rose 5.2 per cent in 2019 over 2018, the smallest year-over-year […]

By Dave Bedard