SYDNEY, Aus. (Reuters) — Wildfires across Australia’s west coast are likely to destroy nearly four percent of the grain production in the country’s largest crop producing state. The news supported global wheat prices in an amply supplied world market. Most of Western Australian grain production at this time of the year is wheat, and Australia […] Read more
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Nineteen wildfires to destroy nearly four percent of Western Australia’s crop
Alarming new ‘superbug’ gene found in animals and people in China
LONDON, U.K. (Reuters) — A new gene that makes bacteria highly resistant to a last-resort class of antibiotics has been found in people and pigs in China, including in samples of bacteria with epidemic potential. Scientists called the discovery “alarming” and called for urgent restrictions on the use of polymyxins, a class of antibiotics that […] Read more
Deere to buy Monsanto’s Climate Corp planting equipment unit
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — Climate Corp., a subsidiary of Monsanto Co., said Tuesday that it has signed definitive agreements to allow leading farm equipment maker Deere & Co. acquire Climate’s Precision Planting LLC equipment business for an undisclosed sum. The deal also allows near real-time data connections between certain John Deere farm equipment and Climate’s […] Read more
First genetically modified salmon approved for consumption by FDA
Nov 19 (Reuters) – AquaBounty Technologies’ salmon became the first genetically engineered animal to receive U.S. approval for human consumption, setting the stage for more such approvals. The approval comes with the condition that the salmon be raised only in two specific land-based, contained hatchery tanks in Canada and Panama, and not in the United […] Read more
VIDEO: Canada’s agricultural markets update – November 18, 2015
D’Arce McMillan, The Western Producer markets editor, monitors trends in the North American and global agricultural markets. Each week he hosts a market video about crops. The video is designed to help viewers understand the forces responsible for changes in the trade. If agricultural markets are important to you, we have you covered. Crops: Ample […] Read more
Reducing antibiotic use can be complicated
A veterinarian with a pharmaceutical company says the livestock industry should resist going too far in reducing use
RED DEER — More antibiotics are used to promote growth and control disease in livestock than in the entire human population, but that is not the full story. “This statement does not provide context,” said Gail Cunningham, a veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim. She said measuring use by kilograms requires more explanation because different drugs weigh […] Read moreLowline breed pulls off wins at Farmfair
An Idaho ranch won seven titles, and the Premier Breeder award allowed it to represent the breed at the Supreme show
EDMONTON — Diana Lillefloren knows the Lowline breed has come a long way when the traditional cattle breeders start to take a second look at the small breed. “It is hard to get a compliment out of the big breeders, but they have said, ‘those are some of the best Lowlines I’ve seen’, ” said […] Read moreAg minister to support TPP trade deal
WINNIPEG (Reuters) — Canada’s new agriculture minister said he is likely to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiated by the previous government. The Liberal government elected last month, led by prime minister Justin Trudeau, has not taken a firm position yet on whether it will support TPP, which groups 12 Pacific rim countries. “I suspect when […] Read more
Students work to silence fusarium fungus gene
Fusarium graminearum causes millions of dollars in crop losses each year in Canada and is steadily spreading westward. Two University of Lethbridge students are working on a plan to solve the problem, and their ideas have earned them a gold medal at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition in Boston. Graeme Glaister, a fourth-year […] Read more
CME live cattle futures extend gains; hogs close mixed
CHICAGO, Nov 18 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher for a second day in a row on Wednesday, helped by more short-covering as expectations improved regarding cash prices later this week, traders said. Spot December finished at 130.975 cents per lb, up 2.950 cents, and February 2.550 cents higher at 133.125 […] Read more
