CNS Canada — Unexpected demand for corn and soybeans is supporting markets in Chicago, according to one U.S. trader, a trend he expects to continue. Soybeans — “It’s just not over yet,” said Sean Lusk, director of commercial hedging with Walsh Trading in Chicago. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybeans rallied in late April after […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Surprise demand propping up prices
U.S. grains: Soy surges on concerns over Argentina soymeal
Reuters — U.S. soybean futures jumped three per cent on Wednesday, the biggest gain for the most-active contract in two weeks, boosted by concerns about a possible shortage of soymeal from Argentina. U.S. wheat futures rose on short-covering and forecasts of unfavourable rain in the U.S. Plains grain belt, while corn advanced to a one-month […] Read more
Pearce: Ontario crop conditions a tale of two scenarios
When it comes to getting a handle on current crop conditions in Ontario, it really depends on who you ask. Conditions and progress in the southern portion of the province vary — some considerably — compared to those in eastern Ontario, particularly where it comes to planting corn and soybeans. If there’s one common theme […] Read more
Klassen: Improving margins support feeder market
Average western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $3-$5 above week-ago levels, with top-quality larger groups trading as much as $8-$10 higher. While current pen closeouts remain underwater, the deferred positions are somewhat brighter, which has rejuvenated buying enthusiasm. Most risk management strategies rely on cattle feeders staying in the game all year. There appears to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat climbs on short-covering, wet weather
Reuters — Chicago wheat rose on Tuesday, lifted by short-covering and concerns about unfavourable rains for maturing U.S. crops. Corn ended mixed and soybeans finished a volatile session lower, with corn weakened by spread trades against wheat and soybeans down on technical selling. Chicago Board of Trade July wheat added two cents, or 0.6 per […] Read more
Monsanto rejects Bayer bid
Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, has rejected Bayer AG’s US$62 billion acquisition bid as “incomplete and financially inadequate” but hasn’t slammed the door on further talks. Reuters on Tuesday quoted two unnamed sources as saying Monsanto can see the logic of combining with the German drugs and crop chemicals group, as per Bayer’s proposal […] Read more
Bayer confirms US$62 billion cash offer for Monsanto
Frankfurt | Reuters –– German drugs and chemicals group Bayer AG said it had made an offer to buy U.S. seeds company Monsanto for US$122 per share in cash, or a total value of $62 billion including debt, to create the world’s biggest agricultural supplier. Bayer said on Monday that the proposal made to Monsanto’s […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy, wheat fall on broad commodity weakness
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell on Monday on profit-taking as commodities fell broadly and soymeal backed down from contract highs, analysts said. Wheat also declined but corn futures rose, bucking the weak trend. At the Chicago Board of Trade, July soybeans settled down 15-3/4 cents at $10.58-1/2 per bushel after dipping to […] Read more
Ex-Dreyfus CEO leaves board in latest shakeup
Paris | Reuters — Global agricultural trader Louis Dreyfus Co. announced board changes on Thursday in which former CEO Serge Schoen will leave the group, another step in a leadership shakeup under main shareholder Margarita Louis-Dreyfus. Schoen oversaw rapid growth at the trading house as CEO between 2005 and 2013. Last year, Louis Dreyfus promoted […] Read more
Rush for ag chem megadeals clogs regulatory path, worries farmers
Reuters — As Bayer joins the agricultural sector’s scramble to consolidate, its bid for Monsanto may be a tipping point for U.S. farmers, federal lawmakers and regulators concerned the tie-ups may harm the farm economy. If Monsanto accepts Bayer’s unsolicited offer, experts say, the deal would inevitably trigger a review by federal antitrust regulators. But […] Read more
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