Brussels/Davos | Reuters — Canada, the European Union, China and 14 other World Trade Organization members agreed on Friday to create a temporary mechanism to settle trade disputes after U.S. action rendered the WTO incapable last month of acting as the umpire of global trade. The Canadian government and the European Commission said separately that […] Read more
Canada, EU, China, others agree on temporary fix to WTO crisis
Favourable growing conditions forecast for major ag regions
MarketsFarm — Canadian producers looking for challenging growing conditions elsewhere in the world to prop up commodity prices may be disappointed during the 2020 growing season. South America “If you’re looking for any help from South America for your canola or soybeans or corn, you’d better look somewhere else,” Drew Lerner, president of World Weather […] Read more
Zimbabwe says grain stocks running out after drought
Harare | Reuters — Zimbabwe has only 100,000 tonnes of grain in its strategic reserves, enough to last just over a month, as the southern African nation suffers the effects of a severe drought, according to the agriculture minister. More than half the country’s population faces food shortages after maize harvests halved last year. The […] Read more
Trade deal will not affect China’s other ag suppliers, Liu says
Beijing | Reuters — China’s other suppliers of agricultural commodities will not be impacted by the Sino-U.S. trade deal since buying will be based on market principles, Vice-Premier Liu He said, according to a report from state-owned CCTV on Thursday. Liu was speaking on Wednesday at a press briefing after signing the Phase One trade […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat up, corn and soy down awaiting USDA data
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures jumped on Thursday in a rebound from the market’s recent slide and soybeans and corn eased as investors squared positions ahead of an eagerly awaited U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supply-and-demand report due on Friday. Rising global prices and forecasts for reduced U.S. plantings this season gave wheat […] Read more
Brazil to become top soybean producer, USDA says
MarketsFarm — Brazil is set to pass the United States as the world’s top producer of soybeans during the 2019-20 marketing year, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As soybean production in both countries has risen dramatically over the last 10 years, the U.S. continued to lead the world in […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans slide as rain boosts South American crops
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures ended mostly lower on Tuesday on crop-boosting rains in South America and as investors squared positions ahead of a key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop report due on Friday, although short-covering trimmed losses late in the session. Corn and wheat futures were mostly flat as late-session short […] Read more
U.S. won’t levy new tariffs on Brazil, Trump tells Bolsonaro
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump told him in a phone conversation that his administration will not levy new tariffs on Brazilian steel and aluminum as threatened earlier this month. “I had a phone conversation a few moments ago with Donald Trump. … He […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn rise as traders adjust positions
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures ticked higher on Friday as traders adjusted positions ahead of the year-end holidays. Lingering uncertainty over demand prospects created by a U.S.-China trade deal hung over the markets. Crop prices increased after Washington and Beijing last week struck a ‘Phase One’ trade deal that includes a […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy futures ease on rains in South American forecasts
Reuters — U.S. soybean futures edged lower on Thursday, retreating from a five-week high touched earlier this week as traders expected rains to benefit rival suppliers in South America. Favourable crop weather could boost production in Argentina and Brazil, increasing global supplies and competition for export sales to buyers like China. Rains will ease dry […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
