Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers face tough choices about purchasing fertilizer for next year. Buy now? Or roll the dice and hope prices fall? There are reports of price dips in some countries because farmers are balking at the high cost. But the fundamentals aren’t good, said one American fertilizer analyst. “I think prices are going to see continued […] Read more
Crystal balls are even more wonky this year
The uncertainty factor is as high as fertilizer prices right now
China to step up investment in rural infrastructure
Beijing | Reuters – China will accelerate investment in rural infrastructure to improve its ability to ensure food supply while also stabilizing the economy, according to a plan published by the agriculture ministry on Tuesday. The plan, backed by eight ministries and government agencies, comes amid slowing growth in the world’s second-biggest economy, due to […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise on cash market strength
November feeder cattle also end higher
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade hog and cattle futures rose on Wednesday, following gains made in the cash market earlier this week, traders said. CME December lean hog futures gained 0.9 cent to settle at 87.375 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The contract faced technical resistance at the high end of its 20-day […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: October USDA report delivers few major changes
Soy could see 'a few more days' higher
MarketsFarm — For the most part, the latest monthly supply and demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided little in terms of major changes from its September report. USDA issued its October world agriculture supply and demand estimates (WASDE) during the late morning Wednesday, with much of the data fairly close to market […] Read more
One-third of China’s land protected under ecological ‘red line’ scheme
Authorities crack down on farm encroachment
Shanghai | Reuters — Nearly a third of China’s land is now off-limits to development under a scheme known as the “ecological protection red line,” a senior official said at a news briefing on Monday, bringing the country in accord with global biodiversity targets. China first proposed its “red line” scheme in 2011 to put […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat falls on Russian production outlook
Exports underpin U.S. soybeans
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat fell on Monday on an expected increase in Russia’s crop that will compete with U.S. exports, already hampered by a strong U.S. dollar, traders said. Soybeans were underpinned by Chinese export demand, while corn ended up slightly after two-sided trade on broader economic uncertainty. Chicago Board of Trade most […] Read more
Canada, China agree to suspend WTO canola dispute
Lifting of canola ban renders case moot
Berlin | Reuters — Canada and China have agreed to suspend proceedings against Chinese measures affecting the importation of Canadian canola seed, according to a World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint on Thursday. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) panel suspended its work as of Tuesday, the complaint said. Work can be suspended at any time […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybean and wheat futures rise 2.2 per cent
Chicago corn futures firm
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures rose 2.2 per cent on Monday, supported by hopes for a pick-up in the pace of exports as farmers in top global consumer China struggle with hot and dry weather that is expected to reduce the size of the crop there. “It appears that exporters […] Read more
China’s farmers struggle to save crops as heatwave, drought drag on
Chongqing | Reuters — As the tinder-dry countryside along China’s Yangtze river basin withers under a heatwave that has lasted more than two months, veteran farmer Chen Xiaohua recalled the last severe drought to hit his crops more than 60 years ago. “This year is drier than 1960,” said Chen, 68, from his plot of […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola could take a nosedive
'I think (farmers) are undersold'
MarketsFarm — A huge drop in canola prices could be looming, according to analyst Wayne Palmer of Exceed Grain in Winnipeg. Palmer pointed to Prairie farmers and said, “I think they are undersold.” He surmised too many farmers have held off from selling their canola, in hopes of getting a great price the next time […] Read more
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