An image created by Nexu Science Communication, together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus, the type of virus linked to COVID-19. (Nexu Science Communication via Reuters)

Irritated trade partners push back on China’s coronavirus food tests

Canada rips testing as 'unjustified trade restrictions'

Beijing/Geneva | Reuters — Major food-producing countries are growing increasingly frustrated with China’s scrutiny of imported products and are calling on it to stop aggressive testing for the coronavirus, which some say is tantamount to a trade restriction. China says it has found the virus on the packaging of products from 20 countries including German […] Read more

File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Strong demand supporting pea prices

MarketsFarm — There has continued to be a strong demand for peas, as demonstrated by data from the Canadian Grain Commission. And that has been supporting price increases, according to Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture Inc. in Winnipeg. “The overall demand has been very, very good,” she said. In the most recent export data […] Read more


CBOT January 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans rise to four-year peak

Corn up on export hopes, eye on South American dryness

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures scaled a four-year high on Tuesday as soaring demand from domestic users and exporters stoked concerns that already-thin supplies are likely to tighten further. Corn futures climbed for a third straight session on strong demand and smaller global supplies, while wheat dipped after two days of gains. “Soybeans […] Read more

Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. in early August 2017. (File photo by Dave Bedard)

Barley trade routes redrawn as China tariff hits Australian farmers

China's barley purchases from Canada more than double last year's

Sydney/Paris | Reuters — Out in Australia’s grain fields, farmers have started harvesting one of their biggest-ever barley crops, after drought-relieving rains convinced many to plant to the edges of their paddocks. Yet the tractors are working under the cloud of a new tariff imposed by China — seen widely as retaliation for Australia’s push […] Read more


CBOT January 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans firm on export demand, record crush

Rising energy, equities markets give grains additional lift

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose for a second straight session on Monday, holding near a more than four-year high hit last week, on strong demand from top buyer China and data showing the U.S. soy crush pace hit an all-time high last month. The strong demand stoked worries about thinning supplies of […] Read more

CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sag as COVID surge threatens meat demand

Demand uncertainty also weighs on hogs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. livestock futures slumped on Friday as soaring coronavirus cases raised expectations for lockdowns on commerce that will hurt demand for meat from restaurants, hotels and other venues, analysts said. Cities and states across the country have moved to re-impose restrictions to tame new spikes in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. Additional […] Read more


CBOT January 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (green line) and ICE January 2021 canola (yellow line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans up again on export demand, supply concerns

Markets recover after setback on Thursday

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain futures rose on Friday as soybeans traded near a 4-1/2-year high reached earlier this week on strong export demand and tightening domestic inventories. The soybean market appeared to be well supported at current prices, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture ignited a rally with a report on Tuesday that […] Read more

ICE January 2021 canola with 20-day moving average (yellow line) and CBOT January 2021 soymeal (green line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Bull market in canola’s grasp

That said, watch for cracks in demand side of equation

MarketsFarm — Canola is deeply in the hold of a bull market that could push nearby contracts to $575-$580 per tonne, according to Errol Anderson of ProMarket Communications in Calgary. “A bull market always needs to be fed and it keeps getting fed,” Anderson said, referencing the November supply and demand report from the U.S. […] Read more


CME December 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures move up off one-month low

Lower corn, soy values support feeder cattle

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Thursday in a rebound from a one-month low reached in the previous session, while live cattle futures weakened. The hog market’s recovery carried futures to their highest level since Monday. Traders said the market continues to face pressure from large U.S. supplies and uncertainty over […] Read more

CBOT January 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybean futures surge again to new four-year high

USDA cuts corn, soybean yield estimates

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures soared to a fresh four-year high on Tuesday and corn topped a one-year high after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said stockpiles this marketing year will fall to their smallest in seven years. The forecasts, issued in a monthly crop report, reflected a decline in […] Read more