Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures veered between gains and losses while soybean futures rose on Monday as planting delays fueled uncertainty over the size of the nation’s crops. Heavy rains delayed plantings the spring and traders remain unsure about how many acres of corn and soy will actually be planted and how much […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn seesaws, soy rises on planting uncertainty
U.S. livestock: Hog futures advance after Trump calls off Mexico tariffs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose on Monday as traders were relieved President Donald Trump had called off plans to impose tariffs on imports of Mexican goods, which means no retaliatory duties by Mexico on U.S. products like pork. Live cattle futures rose by the daily price limit. Traders remained on edge about […] Read more
U.S. to favour soybeans in trade war aid for farmers
Washington/Chicago | Reuters — The Trump administration is considering direct payments to U.S. farmers of $2 per bushel for soybeans as part of an aid package to offset the trade war with China, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, an offer that could encourage more soy planting despite record supplies. China is the world’s top soybean importer, […] Read more
U.S. to begin testing sick and dead pigs for African swine fever
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture within weeks will begin testing sick and dead pigs for a hog virus that has killed herds across Asia in an effort to minimize devastation if the disease enters the United States, the agency said on Thursday. Increased testing aims to help U.S. officials detect cases […] Read more
U.S. plans more aid for farmers amid China trade spat
Chicago/Washington | Reuters — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Friday that President Donald Trump had asked him to create a plan to help U.S. farmers cope with the heavy impact of the U.S.-China trade war on agriculture. A new aid program would be the second round of assistance for farmers, after the Department […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy sinks to decade low as China trade war escalates
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures sank to their lowest prices in more than a decade on Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump said he was in no hurry to sign a deal to end the trade war with Beijing, a dispute that has slashed U.S. exports of the oilseed to China. Wheat futures […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Escalating trade war pressures CME hog futures
Chicago | Reuters — Concerns about a prolonged trade war between the United States and China pressured U.S. lean hog futures on Friday, while cattle futures advanced. U.S. and Chinese negotiators ended two days of talks to try to salvage a trade deal in Washington on Friday after the U.S. imposed a new set of […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy futures break 10-year low on China trade tensions
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures tumbled to their lowest prices in more than a decade on Thursday as traders worried that make-or-break trade talks between Washington and Beijing would fail to produce a deal. Corn and wheat futures also fell as a two-day U.S.-China trade meeting was set to begin in Washington. President […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures recover on hopes for China trade deal
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures shook off early losses to end mostly higher on Thursday as fears about rising acrimony between Washington and Beijing gave way to hopes that negotiators may be able to hammer out a deal to end the U.S.-China trade war. U.S. President Donald Trump said it was possible the […] Read more
U.S. grains: Prices slip as weather outlook favours corn planting
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures slumped on Wednesday as forecasts for drier weather in the U.S. Midwest next week fueled hopes that farmers will be able to make progress planting corn after delays. Large inventories of the crops added pressure on the markets, which also remained nervous about trade tensions between […] Read more