Chicago | Reuters — U.S. farmers, already battered by the U.S.-China trade war, are facing increasing anxiety as the partial government shutdown nears the two-week mark, leaving crucial aid and loan payments in limbo. The shutdown has blocked assistance for many farmers, who at this time of year apply for federal loans as they pay […] Read more
As loans and aid dry up, U.S. farmers face fresh challenge from shutdown
CBOT weekly outlook: Soybeans wait on China news
CNS Canada — Soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade started 2019 on a firm note, bouncing higher on rumours of fresh Chinese buying interest. However, with the U.S. government still in partial shutdown mode, confirmation of that business was lacking and additional advances remain questionable. “We’re basically buying the rumour at this point,” […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy up on crop stress in Brazil, hopes for China talks
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures advanced to a near two-week high on Wednesday on declining yield prospects in Brazil and optimism about U.S. trade relations with top global soy buyer China, traders said. Wheat futures rose, rebounding from multi-month lows on short-covering and concerns about excessive rains in Argentina, while corn finished modestly […] Read more
Early winter weather puts U.S. safe-haven corn planting in doubt
Chicago | Reuters — Illinois farmer Brent Johnson had planned to bump up his corn acreage by 10 per cent in 2019 and plant fewer soybeans as a way to shelter himself from the lower soy prices caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war with China. But some early winter storms caused him to […] Read more
Canola funds reduce net short position
CNS Canada — Fund traders lowered their net short positions in ICE Futures canola during the week ended Tuesday, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report compiled by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). According to the latest report, managed money and other reportable speculators decreased their net short position in canola […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans sag as China sale fails to impress
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell to a one-week low on Thursday as confirmation of a 1.13 million-tonne U.S. soybean sale to China failed to impress traders who are shifting their focus to burdensome U.S. and global supplies, analysts said. Wheat futures rose, almost hitting a two-month top, supported by signs of rising […] Read more
U.S. confirms China soybean purchase, but no clarity over more sales
Chicago/Washington | Reuters — U.S. government officials on Thursday hailed China’s first meager purchase of U.S. soybeans since its trade war with the United States began in July and said they hoped for, but could not guarantee, more to come. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced private sales of 1.13 million tonnes of U.S. […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Cheaper canola could stir up export interest
CNS Canada — The ICE Futures canola market has seen contracts become cheaper of late, which could lead to an increase in demand — but the market is also still closely following the ongoing saga between China and the U.S. “Everybody’s just waiting for some kind of news regarding China possibly purchasing U.S. beans. They […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans rise as China buys U.S. supplies
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures hit a 4-1/2-month high on Wednesday as China bought U.S. soybeans for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in early December. State-owned Chinese companies bought at least 500,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans, two U.S. traders said, in deals valued […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy climbs on hopes for China buying
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed higher on Tuesday as traders anticipated potential Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products, and shrugged off a bearish monthly global soy inventories report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn firmed, led by soybeans, but wheat futures fell after USDA raised its forecasts of U.S. and global […] Read more