NOVA SCOTIA CROP AND LIVESTOCK INSURANCE COMMISSION
PROPOSED NEW PLAN FOR GRAPE INSURANCE  . . . THREE CONTRADICTORY TRENDS IN FOOD CONSUMPTION . . . LINGERING ISSUES DELAY TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP TRADE DEAL . . . QUEBEC NEWSPAPER SWITCHES TO ELECTRONIC-ONLY WEEKDAY EDITION  . . . U.S. BEEF PRICES FALL AGAIN . . . 
                    
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

NOVA SCOTIA CROP AND LIVESTOCK INSURANCE COMMISSION
PROPOSED NEW PLAN FOR GRAPE INSURANCE
Source: NSFA The Nova Scotia Crop and Livestock Insurance Commission has been working with the grape industry on the development of a new Grape Insurance plan. Currently the Commission is in the final stages of obtaining its authorities to offer this plan. The intention, pending receipt of all authorities, is to be able to offer this plan to grape producers for the 2016 crop year.
nsclic@novascotia.ca

THREE CONTRADICTORY TRENDS IN FOOD CONSUMPTION
Source: FCC
Not every day will you find top executives from four of the largest food retailers in North America (Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, and Whole Foods Market) sharing the same stage to discuss food trends. I had the pleasure recently to moderate their discussion at the Business Strategies Forum (link in French) organized by the Quebec Food Processors Association. (read more)

LINGERING ISSUES DELAY TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP TRADE DEAL
Source: CBC.ca
A last-minute sprint toward a historic trade agreement turned into yet another marathon negotiating session, as a few lingering issues including Canadian dairy repeatedly delayed an announcement of a deal Sunday. (read more)

QUEBEC NEWSPAPER SWITCHES TO ELECTRONIC-ONLY WEEKDAY EDITION
Source: Pulp and Paper Canada
Beginning next January, La Presse, a French-language newspaper in Quebec, will cease publishing a print edition for the Monday to Friday papers. Instead, it will provide a free digital edition tailored to tablet computers called La Presse+. The publisher says this will make La Presse the first daily print newspaper to be 100 percent digital during the week. La Presse will continue to print and distribute a hard-copy edition on Saturdays. It will be delivered to subscribers and sold at various outlets. (read more)

U.S. BEEF PRICES FALL AGAIN
Source: TheBeefSite
The USDA Daily Direct Slaughter Cattle Report reported cash cattle traded on a live wt. avg. basis at $117.76/cwt while the delivered dressed price was reported at $188.64. Using the quoted 64 percent dressing percentage this would be the equivalent of $120.7 delivered. Live fed cattle were trading in the low 130s just a couple of days before and reports of dramatically lower prices paid days before the contract became eligible for delivery certainly caused a lot of scrambling among traders. (read more)