Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures on Wednesday rose for the sixth time in seven sessions on expectations that a drought-reduced crop in Argentina would buoy demand for U.S. supplies. Gains were limited by plentiful global supplies and strong production prospects in Brazil. Wheat slipped to a two-week low, pressured by high world supplies […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans rise as drought withers crops in Argentina

Canada to seek Mercosur trade pact amid NAFTA uncertainty
Ottawa | Reuters — The Canadian government plans to open free trade talks with the four-nation Mercosur trading bloc in South America, an official said on Friday, at a time when the future of NAFTA is facing increasing uncertainty. Canada sends around 75 per cent of its goods exports to the U.S. and is looking […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola hits resistance
CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts moved higher over the past week, but may be running into resistance to the upside. “I’m sensing that canola is at the top end of the range,” said Errol Anderson of ProMarket Communications in Calgary, noting much of the recent strength was tied to advances in Chicago […] Read more

USDA lowers U.S. corn stocks view as exports rise
Washington | Reuters — Surging export demand for U.S. corn will cut into domestic stockpiles of the grain by more than expected, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday. But U.S. soybean stocks were forecast to rise as a bumper harvest in Brazil will allow overseas buyers to source their oilseed purchases from the South […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: USDA report delivers no surprises
CNS Canada — The latest report released from the U.S. Department of Agriculture had no surprises for traders at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), leaving the March corn and soybean contracts little changed. “I think that brokers right now are on the phone talking to their customers, probably some co-ops, elevators are also, and […] Read more

Brazilian antitrust agency approves Bayer-Monsanto tie-up
Brasilia | Reuters — Brazilian antitrust agency Cade on Wednesday approved Bayer’s proposed takeover of U.S. seeds company Monsanto without requiring further asset sales beyond a global proposal announced last October. Cade’s commissioners voted 4-2 in favour of the tie-up under an agreement, negotiated between the companies and global antitrust agencies, that included the sale […] Read more

Nutrien sees demand growth cooling, margins shrinking
Reuters — Nutrien, the Canadian fertilizer and farm supply dealer created from the merger of Agrium and PotashCorp this year, said it expected demand growth for potash in China and India to cool down in 2018. Nutrien, the world’s biggest fertilizer company by capacity, also said higher input costs would shrink nitrogen and phosphate margins. […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on weak exports, bumper Brazil harvest
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures dropped for a second straight day on Thursday on technical selling and profit taking following government data showing lower-than-anticipated U.S. export sales last week. Forecasts for rain and cooler temperatures in Argentina by mid-February and an accelerating soy harvest in Brazil further weighed on prices. Corn and wheat […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Futures get weather boost
CNS Canada — The troublesome weather that gave Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) corn, soybean and wheat contracts a boost over the past week should remain supportive, despite nearby technical setbacks, according to a trader. “I’m still slightly bullish on beans, corn and wheat given the unfavourable weather situation in South America, with too much […] Read more
U.S. grains: Winter wheat jumps as crop conditions drop
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. winter wheat futures surged to their highest in at least four months on Tuesday, led by a more than three per cent rally in hard red winter wheat, after the government slashed condition ratings for the drought-hit U.S. Plains crop. Soybeans and corn also advanced on technical buying and short […] Read more