Canadian potash partnership announces spot sale to China's Sinofert
CALGARY - A partnership representing Saskatchewan's three main fertilizer producers has agreed to sell 350,000 tonnes of potash to a Chinese buyer at what it described only as "competitive" spot prices.
Monday's announcement comes about a month after Vancouver-based Canpotex Ltd. and its Chinese counterpart appeared to be at an impasse over an agreement on 2010 potash prices.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food
SHARON, Vt. - The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back.
The 105-student school is part of the National Farm to School Network, aimed at getting healthier meals into school cafeterias, teaching kids about agriculture and nutrition and supporting local farmers.
Agriculture futures prices higher on Chicago Board of Trade Monday
CHICAGO - Agriculture futures advanced Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for March delivery jumped 10.75 cents to US$4.84 a bushel, while March corn climbed 4.5 cents to $3.56 a bushel and oats for March delivery rose 4.75 cents to $2.31 a bushel. March soybeans surged 16 cents to $9.295 a bushel.
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola, futures prices close higher, barley
WINNIPEG - Closing prices:
Canola: March '10 $5.40 higher $385.70; May '10 $5.30 higher $391.70; July 10 $5.00 higher $396.50; Nov. '10 $4.40 higher $404.70; Jan '11 $2.40 higher $407.90; March '11 $2.40 higher $409.90; May '11 $3.60 higher $411.70; July '11 $3.60 higher $411.70; Nov. '11 $3.60 higher $411.70; Jan. '12 $3.60 higher $411.70; March '12 $3.60 higher $411.70.
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola, futures prices close higher, barley
WINNIPEG - Closing prices:
ICE Futures Canada canola futures prices open higher; barley unchanged
WINNIPEG - Prices were higher at the ICE Futures Canada on Monday.
China finds 170 more tons of tainted milk powder that was reused, not destroyed, after scandal
BEIJING - China has found another 170 tons of tainted milk powder in an emergency crackdown that has made it increasingly clear many products discovered in the country's 2008 milk scandal were repackaged for sale instead of destroyed.
The growing number of cases in recent weeks challenges the government's earlier promise to overhaul its approach to food safety after hundreds of thousands of children in that scandal were sickened by milk products tainted with an industrial chemical. At least six children died.
Agriculture ministers discuss trade, risk management programs, insurance
TORONTO - Federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers discussed risk management programs, livestock insurance and increased access to international markets at a meeting in Toronto today.
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said there was a frank assessment of how risk management programs were working but he was not willing to commit to any specifics.
Urban farmers fight nationwide to sow green biz
LOS ANGELES - Tara Kolla fancied herself a green thumb-turned-green businesswoman when she planted an organic flower plot in her yard and sold poppies, sweet peas and zinnias at the local farmers market. For her neighbors, it was an eyesore.
Where Kolla saw her efforts as creating a lush sanctuary, her neighbors witnessed dusty pots, steaming compost, flies and a funky aroma on their tiny cul-de-sac in Los Angeles. They complained to zoning officials - and prevailed.
Agriculture futures prices lower on Chicago Board of Trade Friday
CHICAGO - Agriculture futures were lower Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for March delivery lost 2.5 cents US to $4.7325 a bushel, while March corn fell 2.5 cents to $3.515 a bushel and oats for March delivery shed 2.5 cents to $2.2625 a bushel. March soybeans slipped 0.5 cent to $9.135 a bushel.
Tyson Foods returns to 1st-quarter profit; all units, including chicken, make money in turnaround
NEW YORK - Tyson Foods Inc. said Friday it returned to a profit in its fiscal first quarter as its beef, pork and chicken units all made money.
The meat producer's chicken unit continued its turnaround. The quarterly profit was its third straight. The industry is improving on falling commodity costs and production cuts, which bolster prices.
ICE Futures Canada: Canola futures prices close mix, barley lower
WINNIPEG - Closing prices:
Canola: March '10 $1.90 lower $380.30; May '10 $2.10 lower $386.40; July 10 $1.90 lower $391.50; Nov. '10 $1.70 lower $400.30; Jan '11 $0.20 higher $405.50; March '11 $0.20 higher $407.50; May '11 $0.20 higher $408.10; July '11 $0.20 higher $408.10; Nov. '11 $0.20 higher $408.10; Jan. '12 $0.20 higher $408.10; March '12 $0.20 higher $408.10.
Slaughter cows steady at the Winnipeg livestock market
WINNIPEG - Slaughter cows traded fully steady while bulls were selling a bit higher compared to last week's at the Winnipeg livestock market Friday.
Total head count: 1,245.
Agriculture prices mix in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade
CHICAGO - Agriculture futures were mixed in early Friday trading on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for March delivery edged up 0.25 cent US to $4.76 a bushel; March corn was flat at $3.54 a bushel; March oats were unchanged at $2.2875 a bushel; and March soybeans gained 6.5 cents to $9.205 a bushel.
ICE Futures Canada Friday: Canola futures prices open lower, barley unchange
WINNIPEG - Prices opened mixed at the the ICE Futures Canada on Friday.
Climate change likely to make it harder to feed 1 billion hungry: CIDA chief
OTTAWA - Poor countries are still gripped by the food crisis of two years ago and climate change will only make things tougher in the coming years, says the head of Canadian International Development Agency.
CIDA President Margaret Biggs offered that candid assessment of the state of the undeveloped world and what Canada can to do help, in a speech Thursday to University of Ottawa students.
Holy Cow! Britain mulls a ban on Chinese lanterns over fears they may maim livestock
LONDON - Legislators are calling on Britain's government to ban Chinese paper lanterns, because of a risk to cows, sheep and other livestock.
Some members of the House of Lords called for a ban on Thursday, following concerns expressed by Britain's National Farmers' Union.
Tainted milk resurfaces in China, pointing to perennial food safety challenges: experts
BEIJING - The resurfacing of tainted milk products in China highlights the challenges of policing the food supply in a country where close ties between local authorities and companies hamper regulation while producers are undertrained, experts said Thursday.
The problems have dealt another blow to China's efforts to restore confidence in its dairy supply after a massive contaminated milk scandal in 2008 left at least six babies dead and sickened 300,000 other children. At the time, China promised sweeping changes and punished dozens of officials, dairy executives and farmers. In November, it executed a dairy farmer and a milk salesman.
Agriculture futures prices mixed on Chicago Board of Trade Thursday
CHICAGO - Agriculture futures were mixed Thursday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for March delivery jumped 6.75 cents US to $4.7575 a bushel, while March corn gained one cent to $3.54 a bushel and soybeans for March delivery climbed six cents to $9.14 a bushel. March oats lost 2.25 cents to $2.2875 a bushel.
ICE Futures Canada: Canola, barley futures prices close higher Thursday
WINNIPEG - Closing prices: