Chicago | Reuters — U.S. derivatives regulators are revising their proposal to limit the positions that traders can hold in commodity markets to make it easier for some hedge funds and banks to keep large trades. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission wants to allow financial firms to count their market positions separately from subsidiaries if […] Read more
U.S. regulators revise proposal on commodity position limits
U.S. grains: Soy futures fall as harvest pace picks up
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. corn and soybean futures fell on Tuesday, under pressure from the expanding harvest around the U.S. Midwest as well as some profit-taking after rallying on Monday, traders said. Wheat futures also fell, but losses were kept in check as bargain buyers stepped into the market when prices hit their session […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn rise on short-covering bump
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Monday, with the benchmark Chicago Board of Trade soft red winter wheat contract gaining 1.8 per cent, on a round of short-covering by investment funds as well as technical buying, traders said. “If you are looking for a fundamental reason for today’s price rally, look elsewhere, […] Read more
Manitoba corn growers warily eye moisture content
CNS Canada — While harvest is underway for most farmers across Western Canada, many corn growers are busy eyeing the moisture content in their plants. “I know of guys testing at 32 per cent (moisture content of the kernels). That’s abnormal for this time of year,” said Morgan Cott, an agronomist with the Manitoba Corn […] Read more
China to stockpile corn during 2015-16 at lower price
Beijing | Reuters — The Chinese government will continue its controversial corn stockpile policy during 2015-16 and will start to stock the grain from farmers at a lower price compared with last year, government bodies said in a statement late Friday. Beijing will pay 2,000 yuan (C$414) per tonne to farmers in the northeast, the […] Read more
Exporters fear Brazil agents’ strike could hurt corn exports
Sao Paulo | Reuters — A strike by Brazilian federal agricultural agents responsible for approving certificates required for shipments could affect Brazil’s corn exports, the director of the cereal exporters association Anec Sergio Mendes said Friday. Mendes said the strike that started on Thursday was “the worst thing that could happen” to grain exports, though […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans fall as harvest looms; wheat firms
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures fell on Friday and were down about 0.8 per cent for the week as farmers prepared to harvest a bumper crop in the Midwest, traders said. Corn followed soybeans lower while wheat futures firmed on short covering, despite ample global supplies. At the Chicago Board of Trade, November […] Read more
Sales from organic U.S. farms reached $5.5B last year
Chicago | Reuters — Sales from organic U.S. farms reached US$5.5 billion last year, a 72 per cent increase from 2008, the U.S. Agriculture Department said in a report on Thursday that highlighted the consumer trend toward such products. The USDA data, compiled through farmer surveys, showed that milk was the top organic commodity in […] Read more
France bolsters ban on genetically modified crops
Paris | Reuters — France is to use a new European opt-out scheme to ensure a ban on the cultivation of genetically modified crops in the country remains in place, it said on Thursday. The European Union’s largest grain grower and exporter has asked the European Commission for France to be excluded from some GM […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, wheat, soy drift lower in cautious trade
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. corn futures fell for a third day on Thursday as the harvest of an expected bumper crop expanded, but price movement was restrained as markets digested a Federal Reserve decision to leave U.S. interest rates unchanged. Wheat and soybean futures sagged on a lack of supportive fundamental news. All three […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
