A soybean plantation in Brazil. (MailsonPignata/iStock/Getty Images)

Brazil may raise farm subsidies despite belt-tightening

Brasilia | Reuters — Brazil could double spending on subsidized farm insurance in 2020 and may expand subsidized loans, the country’s agriculture policy secretary said on Thursday, even though the new government’s economic team has pledged to cut spending. The negotiations on next year’s farm subsidies highlight the powerful agribusiness lobby’s struggle to preserve benefits […] Read more



ICE March 2019 canola (candlestick chart) with CBOT March 2019 soyoil (green line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola waits on trade talks, USDA reports

ICE canola futures are quiet at the end of January, but could see some movement from outside influences in the coming weeks, according to Exceed Grain senior marketing analyst Wayne Palmer. “Everybody is waiting to see what’s going to happen with the Chinese/United States (trade) talks,” he said. Two days of high-level trade negotiations between […] Read more

CBOT March 2019 soybeans with 20-day moving average. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans hit two-week high

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed to a two-week high on Friday on worries about the size of Brazil’s crop and short-covering ahead of planned U.S.-China trade talks next week, traders said. Corn firmed, following strength in soybeans, while wheat drifted lower, pressured by news that a private forecaster had raised its estimate […] Read more


CBOT March 2019 wheat with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat retreats from five-week high

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat and corn futures closed lower on profit-taking and a lack of market-moving news on Thursday while soybeans firmed, buoyed by concerns about the size of Brazil’s crop. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) March wheat settled down 4-1/2 cents at $5.21-1/2 per bushel (all figures US$). CBOT March corn ended […] Read more

CBOT March 2019 corn futures, with March 2019 soybeans in red. (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Brazil, China drive U.S. commodities

With little data filtering out of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), news from Brazil and trade negotiations with China are currently driving futures contracts on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). “It’s Brazilian weather over there and the Chinese negotiations, which sometimes are on and sometimes aren’t,” said Jack Scoville of Price Futures Group […] Read more



A file photo of Brazil’s Mata Atlantica (Atlantic rainforest). (FG Trade/E+/Getty Images)

Brazil ag minister eyes indigenous land for commercial farming

Brasilia | Reuters — Brazil should open indigenous land to commercial farming, Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias said on Friday, while also seeking to soften many of President Jair Bolsonaro’s controversial stances on native people and the environment. Farmers form a key base of support for right-wing firebrand Bolsonaro who since taking office Jan. 1 […] Read more