Rochester, Minnesota | Reuters — The U.S. government is paying Texas cotton farmer J. Walt Hagood US$145 an acre for losses related to U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies. But Minnesota soybean farmer Betsy Jensen will get just US$35 an acre. Both farmers’ sales have taken heavy blows in Trump’s trade war with China. Neither […] Read more

Trump trade-war aid sows frustration in farm country

China to exempt U.S. pork, soybeans from additional tariffs
Shanghai | Reuters — China will exempt some agricultural products from additional tariffs on U.S. goods, including pork and soybeans, China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Friday, in the latest sign of easing Sino-U.S. tensions before a new round of talks aimed at curbing a bruising trade war. The United States and China have both […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Expected U.S. soybean, corn yields down
MarketsFarm –– The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) September supply and demand report saw downward revisions for corn and soybeans, but kept its estimates for wheat where they were in August. The department on Thursday released its new world agricultural supply and demand estimates (WASDE). “Prices rallied after the report came out because of the […] Read more

StatsCan forecasts near-record corn crop
MarketsFarm — Canada’s corn crop is forecast to be the second largest on record despite a delayed start to spring planting, as yields showed an improvement from earlier forecasts, according to updated production estimates Thursday from Statistics Canada. Using a combination of satellite imagery, previous survey data, and agro-climatic data, the latest Statistics Canada report […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn ease on crop-boosting weather
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures retreated on Wednesday ahead of an eagerly awaited U.S. government crop report, pressured by forecasts for favourable Midwest crop weather and disappointment that China did not include the oilseed on a list of U.S. imports exempted from tariffs. Corn also weakened as late-planted U.S. crops were seen benefiting […] Read more

Grain Farmers of Ontario seeking new CEO
Ontario’s biggest ag commodity organization is on the hunt for a new CEO as its first chief prepares to exit. Barry Senft announced Tuesday he will step down as CEO of Grain Farmers of Ontario in April 2020, a post he’s held since the 2009 merger of the province’s corn, soy and wheat grower groups […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn hits contract lows on sluggish exports, mild weather
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell to life-of-contract lows on Friday, pressured by disappointing weekly U.S. export data and forecasts for benign weather in the heart of the Midwest crop belt, analysts said. Soybeans turned down, retreating from early advances, and wheat followed the lower trend. Chicago Board of Trade December corn settled […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans sag on demand worries
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell more than one per cent on Thursday on concerns about burdensome supplies and weak export demand as the U.S. trade war with China continues, analysts said. Wheat futures rose on short-covering and worries about drought in Australia, and corn edged higher, despite bearish weekly U.S. ethanol statistics. […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Late U.S. crop should slow corn price declines
MarketsFarm — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures fell to fresh contract lows during the week ended Wednesday, but could be running out of room to the downside amid concerns over the lateness of this year’s U.S. crop. “The weather is benign and the government is telling us there’s really no problem with the crop,” […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn extends slide on crop prospects
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago corn futures fell for a third straight session on Wednesday, setting life-of-contract lows as improving crop ratings and benign weather forecasts raised confidence in U.S. harvest prospects, traders said. Wheat rose, with benchmark Chicago wheat rebounding from a three-month low set a day earlier and K.C. and Minneapolis hard wheat […] Read more