Buenos Aires | Reuters — Agriculture ministers from the G20 countries criticized protectionism in a joint statement on Saturday, and vowed to reform World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, but did not detail what steps they would take to improve the food trade system. In the statement, they said they were “concerned about the increasing use […] Read more

G20 ag ministers slam protectionism, pledge WTO reforms

U.S. grains: Soy rises on export prospects
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Friday, notching their second straight weekly gain, bolstered by signs of strong export demand, traders said. Wheat futures were mixed, with winter wheat contracts easing while spring wheat contracts firmed amid concerns about crop shortfalls. Corn closed slightly firm after trading both sides of unchanged during […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy, corn futures close firm
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed slightly firm on Thursday, supported by hopes that stepped-up exports to Europe would make up for business lost in a trade fight with China, traders said. Corn futures also settled in positive territory while wheat was mostly lower, weighed down by technical selling. Soybeans, corn and wheat […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soybeans look to wheat for support
CNS Canada — Corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade chopped around for much of the week ended July 25, but could be poised to move higher. There are ideas a trade deal between the U.S. and Mexico could be reached over some agricultural commodities such as corn, according to Jack Scoville of Price […] Read more

Trump says agreed with EU to work to lower trade barriers
Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States and the European Union were kicking off talks aimed at lowering trade barriers as officials looked to head off a brewing trade war. “This was a very big day for free and fair trade, a very big day indeed,” Trump told […] Read more

Despite some stresses, ‘cautious’ optimism for cow-calf sector
Strong demand and prices are good news, but feed costs and tariffs are troubling
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta cattle producers have a few reasons to be optimistic as they head into the fall. “We’re still on the profitable side for the cow-calf guy,” said Charlie Christie, chair of Alberta Beef Producers. “I’m hearing some optimism on the market side. Whether that will translate into good calf prices in the fall remains to […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cash price uncertainty weakens CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle lost ground on Tuesday after investors exercised caution in advance of this week’s prices for market-ready, or cash, cattle, said traders. There may have been some disappointment after initial bids for cash cattle came in below last week’s sales, a trader said. On Tuesday packers had […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy jumps as U.S. readies aid for farmers
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed to two-week highs on Tuesday as the Trump administration said it would provide up to US$12 billion in aid to shield U.S. farmers from economic pain stemming from trade disputes. The program will include direct payments for farmers, and those who grow soybeans are expected to be […] Read more

Canada feeds Europe’s corn appetite as tariff war shrinks U.S. sales
Winnipeg/Chicago | Reuters — Canadian corn is flowing into Europe at the fastest pace in four years, helped by retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. by the European Union that has shut American corn out of the bloc, traders said. Corn shipments to western European countries rose 85 per cent year over year during the nine […] Read more

Trump to offer U.S. farmers billions to ease trade pain
Washington/Kansas City | Reuters — The Trump administration on Tuesday said it would provide up to US$12 billion in aid for U.S. farmers to shield them from the repercussions felt by trade spats between the United States and China, the European Union and others. China has targeted U.S. agricultural exports with tariffs in retaliation to […] Read more