Shanghai | Reuters — A new flu virus found in Chinese pigs has become more infectious to humans and needs to be watched closely in case it becomes a potential “pandemic virus,” a study said, although experts said there is no imminent threat. A team of Chinese researchers looked at influenza viruses found in pigs […] Read more
Chinese researchers warn of new virus in pigs with human pandemic risk
Food exporters sign safety declarations in lieu of virus-free guarantees
Reuters — U.S. food and feed exporters are shipping goods to China with letters assuring the safety of their cargo in lieu of official declarations requested by Chinese authorities that guarantee coronavirus-free shipments, a U.S. agricultural export group said on Friday. The commitment statements, drafted by the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC), are meant only to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, wheat end higher ahead of USDA reports
Chicago soy also firms; expectations of bumper harvests keep lid on prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures rose on Monday on short-covering and position-squaring ahead of key reports due on Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and word that China was in the market for the grain after futures fell to a seven-week low last week, analysts said. Wheat rose, bouncing from contract […] Read more
U.S. senators question packers over exports to China during pandemic
USDA shows record pork exports to China in April, raising questions about rising U.S. meat prices
Chicago | Reuters — Two prominent U.S. Senate Democrats are pressing America’s top meatpackers to disclose by month’s end how much pork, beef and chicken they shipped to China during the coronavirus outbreak while warning of possible meat shortages at home. The request from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker increases scrutiny of companies such […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Futures rise as frozen meat stocks decline
Exporters drew down stored supplies during packer slowdowns
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle and hog futures firmed on Tuesday following two sessions of declines after U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data showed a larger-than-anticipated decline in cold-storage stocks of pork and beef. The USDA stocks report, released after the close on Monday, showed a record-large drop in U.S. frozen pork inventories in […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn drops to three-week low
Soybeans ease despite crop rating fall as China news weighed
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell for a second straight session on Tuesday and touched a three-week low on an unexpected rise in government crop condition ratings and favorable U.S. Midwest weather that was seen bolstering the recently planted crop. Soybean prices also eased, despite a decline in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s […] Read more
Pompeo urges China to release two detained Canadians
U.S. Secretary of State calls charges 'groundless'
Washington/Ottawa | Reuters — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Monday for the immediate release of two Canadians charged by China with espionage, saying the United States was “extremely concerned” and that the two men’s detention was unjustified. “These charges are politically motivated and completely groundless,” Pompeo said in a statement. Chinese prosecutors […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures drop as China tightens food import restrictions
USDA report bearish on cattle futures
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures retreated on Monday, with actively traded nearby contracts sinking more than three per cent and hitting life-of-contract lows amid worries about pork exports to China, which has stepped up oversight of imported goods due to COVID-19. China’s customs authority said on Sunday it had suspended poultry imports […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn falls on good crop weather
Chinese demand for U.S. farm products underpinning markets
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures declined for the first time in four sessions on Monday as warm weather and scattered rains across a large swath of the Midwest farm belt bolstered development of the recently planted crop. Soybeans were mostly lower as favourable U.S. weather outweighed support from improving demand from top importer […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans climb as China trade talks progress
July wheat down over four per cent on week
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures gained on Friday as U.S. trade talks with China continued, invigorating hopes the top soybean importer would reach earlier export estimates. Wheat fell as the U.S. winter wheat harvest progressed, while corn inched higher on technical positioning. The most active soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade […] Read more
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