The USDA predicted corn planting intentions at 95.34 million acres, which is down from 98.79 million acres U.S. farmers seeded last year. Photo: Fotokostic/Getty Images Plus

CBOT Weekly: USDA predicts declines in planting intentions

Declines in projected planting intentions for 2026/27 were not as big as the market expected, after the United States Department of Agriculture released its estimates on March 31. The USDA also issued its quarterly grain stocks report with stocks for soybeans bigger than anticipated, while those for corn were smaller and wheat virtually matched the average trade guess.


Cobs of fresh corn and cans of Green Giant vegetables in a truck bed, representing southern Alberta's vegetable production threatened by Nortera's Lethbridge plant closure in June 2026. Photo: file.

Nortera’s Lethbridge plant closure ends 75 years of frozen vegetable processing in southern Alberta

Closure of Nortera's Lethbridge facility ends 75 years of frozen vegetable processing, leaving roughly 6,000 contracted acres and 70 jobs in limbo as the company consolidates operations in Quebec

Reading Time: 2 minutes Quebec-based Nortera Foods is closing its Lethbridge frozen vegetable facility in June as part of a strategic restructuring, ending 75-year processing run in region.