Venezuela’s current instability raises questions about future U.S. ag exports. Will turmoil create new opportunities—or shrink the market?
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Grain Farmers of Ontario, the province’s?largest commodity organization,?representing?Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers,?has opened registration for the 2026 March Classic – Breaking New Ground: Embracing Change.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle and hog futures climbed on Tuesday on position squaring between the Christmas and New Year holidays, Reuters reported, citing analysts. CME February live cattle settled 1.500 cents higher at 230.475 cents per pound, and March feeder cattle settled 2.900 cents higher at 344.575 cents per pound. CME benchmark February lean hog futures rose 0.975 cent to 85.450 cents per pound. Cattle futures were buoyed as packers worked quickly with a short week ahead of the New Year holiday, according to an analyst note. But Austin Schroeder, a commodity analyst with Brugler Marketing and Management, said the jumps in both cattle and hog futures were mostly attributable to traders positioning on a day of light trade between two major holidays. Lean hogs bounced back after falling on Monday, with the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) quarterly hogs and pigs report last week showing larger numbers than expected, analysts said. The USDA on Tuesday afterno
The Western Canadian fed market was a little disappointing given dressed sales in Eastern Canada were $10–20/cwt stronger last week. Last week, the Canfax average fed steer and heifer price closed around $294/cwt live, fully steady with the previous week. Light trade was reported with dressed sales ranging from $492.00–493.50/cwt FOB the feedlot. Competition on the cash market was limited, with one packer not bidding on cattle. Cattle that traded were scheduled anywhere from immediate to mid-January delivery, depending on the packer. Last week’s Alberta fed cash-to-futures basis was reported at -$19.83/cwt, weaker than the five-year average. The Canfax steer and heifer prices closed the week steady to $2/cwt lower. The largest week-over-week price decline was on lightweight calves, with prices $9–10/cwt softer. Last week, feeders weighing over 800 pounds traded $1–4/cwt stronger. From their lows in late November, Alberta 550-pound steers have rallied $15/cwt, while same-weight heifers
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Government of Canada Work-Sharing Program can help Employers avoid job cutting
The Work-Sharing Program (WSP) is designed to help employers and workers avert temporary layoffs. The program provides income support to workers eligible for Employment Insurance benefits and who are willing to work a temporary reduced work week when there is a reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer.
Visit the site shown below to read more about the program and eligibility criteria.
http://www.canadabusiness.ca/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1081944193860&lang=en&pagename=CBSC_FE%2Fdisplay&c=Services
Visit the OPIC website (www.opic.on.ca) and click on publications to see the Financial Resources and Support Services brochures that have been developed by OMAFRA for various regions across Southern Ontario.
Hard copies of these brochures as well as brochures for Northern Ontario Regions are available at the OMAFRA resource centers across the province.