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

Brazil may raise farm subsidies despite belt-tightening

U.S. grains: Soybeans drop on renewed China trade concerns
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell for the first time in five sessions on Thursday on new concerns that the U.S.-China trade war may stretch beyond a March 1 deal deadline, with the two countries’ leaders unlikely to meet during upcoming talks. News that U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping are […] Read more

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

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

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 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

U.S. grains: Soybeans firm on South America weather worries
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Wednesday on worries about poor crop weather reducing yield potential in South America, analysts said, while traders continued to watch for any developments in U.S. trade relations with top global soy buyer China. Wheat firmed on hopes that rising prices in Russia, the world’s biggest exporter, […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn, soy break through key technical levels
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn, soybean and wheat futures climbed for a second straight session on Thursday in a short-covering and technical bounce following a steep drop earlier this week. Gains in wheat ignited the rally as hopes for a pickup in U.S. wheat export demand pushed prices through key technical levels. Corn and […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans sink on concerns about China trade talks
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell for the third time in four sessions on Tuesday on worries that the United States and China remain far apart in resolving a bitter trade fight that has slashed U.S. soy imports by the world’s top buyer. Corn and wheat followed soybeans lower, with technical selling accelerating […] Read more