MarketsFarm – Soyoil prices at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) have been tumbling of late largely due to the markets no longer being afraid of already tight global supplies becoming scarcer, according to Sean Lusk of Walsh Commercial Hedging Services in Chicago, Ill. Lush explained that the South American soybean crop wasn’t as bountiful […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Fears over soy scarcity now gone

Hog sector to focus on margins in face of outside volatility
'Counter-cyclical' moves seen in markets
MarketsFarm — The hog sector has found itself caught up in the general uncertainty of many commodity and financial markets — making it more difficult than normal to predict where values could be headed. “We’re seeing a ton of volatility and it feels like we’re in a bit of transition on supply versus expectations,” said […] Read more

Focus on production this year — not prices — say market watchers
Farmers are being advised to have a marketing plan in place, but otherwise focus on production
Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s a good time to take a break from chasing prices, say market watchers. “This year, more than most I’ve seen in recent years, could be a good break for growers who have stretched their rotations to try and grow the crop they feel is most economically advantageous,” said Mike Jubinville, senior markets analyst with […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn hits two-week low on virus worries
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell to a two-week low on Monday as traders worried that the fallout from the coronavirus epidemic could include an economic hit to China, traders said. But soybean and wheat futures ended modestly higher, rebounding from multimonth lows on light bargain buying, strength in soyoil and supportive soybean […] Read more

Fears of a global grain glut on the rise
China’s pig herd has been decimated — and that’s bad news for feed grains and oilseeds, says economist
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you had asked Richard Gray last month whether global grain supply would outstrip demand coming into this growing season, his answer would have been a resounding yes. But now? It’s anyone’s guess. “A few weeks ago, it would have been very clear that global production was going to exceed demand,” said Gray, a veteran […] Read more

Canada’s ag output seen likely rising under climate change
CNS Canada — A new United Nations report suggests just how climate change will reshape agriculture by 2050 — and that Canada’s production capacity stands to benefit. International trade will play an ever-larger role in helping to feed people in food-deficient regions, as warmer temperatures and less precipitation will damage yields in many tropical areas, […] Read more

Chuck the crystal ball — protect your downside
If you’re worried about missing big rallies and don’t like delivery commitments, then consider options, says David Derwin
Reading Time: 5 minutes David Derwin has one piece of advice for farmers wondering where markets will go in 2017: “Expect the unexpected.” “A lot of the marketing advice out there is about trying to guess where the market is going to go, and I think too much time is spent there,” said Derwin, an investment adviser with PI […] Read more

Expert says too many farmers working without a net
FarmTech: Fewer than one in 10 producers use options to set a floor price for their grain
Reading Time: 3 minutes Forget that old farm dog — options are a farmer’s best friend. “If you don’t have options in place, your tool box is not quite complete,” said David Derwin, an investment adviser with PI Financial. “If we can add a few more newer, sharper, better tools like options into the tool box, we’ve got a […] Read more

Loonie’s boost for commodity prices likely limited in 2016
CNS Canada — The Canadian dollar has been steadily depreciating through 2015, sinking to an 11-year low relative to its U.S. counterpart as the end of the year creeps closer. Even if the loonie stays weak in 2016, however, two analysts expect the upside potential it brings to agricultural commodity markets has mostly run out. […] Read more

Cargill Q1 profit jumps despite commodities slump
Chicago | Reuters — Global commodities trader Cargill Inc. effectively navigated tumbling commodities markets and volatile currencies to turn in a 20 per cent gain in first-quarter profit, the privately held company said Wednesday. The Minnesota-based company’s grain and oilseed supply chain and energy businesses were standouts in the quarter ended Aug. 31, in stark […] Read more