Worldwide hog production shrinks and Smithfield rocks Sunday, February 6, 2011 Only last June, a troubled Smithfield Foods Inc., based in Virginia, was denying published reports from Brazil that it was going to sell its pork production to JBS, the Brazilian meat packing giant that had already purchased Smithfield's beef operations. What a difference a few months make for the self-described world's largest pork processor and hog producer. While worldwide hog production shrank two per cent, Smithfield reported record high earnings in the quarter ending Oct. 31.Smithfield made money on both pig raising and processing. Live hog market prices rose 54 per cent to $56 per hundredweight from $36. Cutout prices rose more. "Smithfield is performing at record levels and we are focused on continuing to deliver strong earnings in the second half of fiscal 2011. All indications are that fiscal 2011 will be a record year for the company," said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer, in a December press release.Published reports indicate that Smithfield managed to pay down half of a US$1 billion debt in bonds that were due in 2011. The other half may not be as easy, since recently the U.S. government renewed an ethanol subsidy that keeps grain prices high. BP 'Pocket pigs' pose problems Commercial feed is the salmonella culprit
Ag groups call for pause to AAFC cuts Friday, March 20, 2026 Close to two dozen Canadian ag groups wrote to Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald to ask for an immediate pause to the scheduled cuts at AAFC research facilities. The federal government is closing seven ag research sites and eliminating 665 positions to support the prime minister’s goal... Read this article online
Top Tillage Equipment for Large Acreage Farming - A 2026 Buyer’s Guide Thursday, March 19, 2026 Choosing the right tillage equipment is crucial for high acreage growers managing heavy residue, variable soil conditions, and the need for efficient seedbed preparation. Today’s leading tillage systems combine residue sizing, soil preservation, and operational efficiency—while pairing... Read this article online
Corteva introduces Lumiscend LUXE fungicide seed treatment Thursday, March 19, 2026 Corteva has launched a new fungicide seed treatment in time for the 2026 planting season. Lumiscend LUXE combines four active ingredients – difenoconazole, metalaxyl-M and S-isomer, ipconazole, and inpyrfluxam – to provide farmers with a robust seed treatment option spanning Groups 3, 4,... Read this article online
CGC issues multiple licenses on March 18 Thursday, March 19, 2026 Two Canadian and one American grain handler received licenses from the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) on March 18. One of the Canadian companies, Red River Seeds in Morris, Man., the leading buyer of rye grain in Western Canada, received two licenses. One of those licenses is a grain... Read this article online
ADM and Bunge Earn Spots on 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies List Thursday, March 19, 2026 Two major agricultural companies, ADM and Bunge, have been named to the 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies list by Ethisphere, a global authority on defining and advancing ethical business practices. The recognition places both companies among nine honorees in the Food, Beverage and... Read this article online