U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a meeting of the National Space Council in the East Room of the White House in Washington on June 18. (Photo: Reuters/Leah Millis)

Trump’s tariff war threatens to erode support of farmers

Chicago | Reuters — President Donald Trump’s tariff battle with key buyers of U.S. apples, soybeans and corn threatens the support of some of his biggest backers — U.S. farmers now seeing their livelihoods in jeopardy. Farmers overwhelmingly supported Trump in the 2016 election, welcoming how he championed rural economies and vowed to repeal estate […] Read more




(FIle photo by Allan Dawson)

U.S. grains: CBOT wheat, soybeans post sharp losses

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and wheat futures fell sharply on Wednesday, with wheat sinking 3.2 per cent and soybean futures hitting their lowest in more than nine months. Traders said that long liquidation by investment funds triggered the sell-off. Concerns about trade with China sparked the bearish wave in soybeans while wheat was […] Read more


Hard white winter wheat growing in North Carolina in 2010. (Dave Marshall photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. grains: Wheat futures jump

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rallied on Friday, with the benchmark Chicago Board of Trade soft red winter wheat contract surging 4.1 per cent on forecasts for dry conditions that could further stress an already damaged crop. The weather outlook also threatened to slow planting progress in the U.S. Midwest, which was supportive […] Read more

A wheat crop in progress on May 24, 2016 north of London, Ont. (Ralph Pearce photo)

U.S. grains: Wheat up for third day in a row

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Thursday, their third straight day of gains, on worries that adverse weather will lead to crop shortfalls in key growing areas around the world, traders said. Soybean futures fell, pressured by fresh concerns about exports. Corn futures closed lower on long liquidation by funds after failing […] Read more


(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. grains: Soybean, corn futures fall

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell 1.9 per cent on Wednesday, dropping below US$10 a bushel for the first time since April 4, on renewed fears about a trade dispute chilling demand from China, the world’s top buyer of the oilseed. Wheat futures ticked higher on short-covering, recovering from a three-week low hit […] Read more