Pork belly futures a thing of the past Monday, October 3, 2011 The mid-July notice from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange was simple and terse."Because of a prolonged lack of trading volume and after significant discussion with industry participants, CME will be delisting Frozen Pork Bellies Futures and Options effective Monday July 18, 2011."According to Minyanville Media, which reports on commodity trading, pork belly trading, which celebrated its 50th birthday this year, was the most recognized and glamorous of the commodity trading contracts. Pork bellies, frozen in the winter when demand was low, were thawed in the summer to meet the high demand when bacon and tomato sandwiches were peaking. The seasonal demand produced a need to hedge against higher prices. A single contract consisted of 40,000 pounds of frozen trimmed bellies from which bacon was made.Minyanville said trading in hog bellies declined for a number of reasons. The packing industry has switched to fixed price contracting. A few huge companies producing both pigs and bacon dominate. On top of that, demand is no longer seasonal, with hamburger chains adding bacon to make their sandwiches more palatable. BP 'This program is no ASRA' It's the pork, stupid!
Canola Storage Tips Keep Crops Market Ready Tuesday, June 9, 2026 Farmers knowproper storage is important tomaintaincanola quality and ensure it meets market standards. One major concern for growers is the use of malathion in storage bins. Malathion residue can remain in bins for many months after treatment. This residue can transfer to canola seeds,... Read this article online
Copper thefts occurring on Manitoba farms Monday, June 8, 2026 Manitoba farmers performing equipment checks are realizing thieves targeted their operations over the winter. “We were getting ready for the season and noticed the copper wire had been cut and pulled off of an entire irrigation pivot,” Rachel Proden, who farms near Portage la Prairie,... Read this article online
Alta. farmers encouraged to take vet services survey Monday, June 8, 2026 An Alberta rural community wants farmers and ranchers to participate in a survey to highlight the importance of access to veterinary services. The Municipal District of Wainright created the survey to gather input from producers on veterinary access and how it contributes to animal... Read this article online
Water Based Nanotech Improves Pesticide Use on Crops Monday, June 8, 2026 Delivering pesticides effectively to crops is a long-standing challenge in agriculture. Traditional spraying methods often cause droplets to bounce offleavesdrift away in the air or wash into soil and water bodies. This leads to wasted chemicals with higher costs and environmental... Read this article online
Canola Crisis and Cattle Threat Shake Global Commodity Markets Monday, June 8, 2026 The market saw sharp price declines during the week ending June 5, 2026, as investment funds reduced positions and removed risk premiums related to weather and global conditions, according to the latest Ag Commodity Corner+ Podcast titled “” Farms.com Risk Management Commodity Experts... Read this article online