File photo of an irrigated alfalfa stand in Saudi Arabia. (JohnnyGreig/E+/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia highly dependent on grain imports

Alfalfa more profitable for domestic growers

MarketsFarm — While Saudi Arabia is a giant among the oil-producing countries of the world, the desert kingdom does produce small amounts of grain. With a population that’s about one million less than Canada’s, Saudi Arabia is extremely dependent on importing its grain from overseas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) attaché in Riyadh explained […] Read more

CBOT May 2023 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans climb on supportive USDA data

Corn mixed; May wheat unchanged on day

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose 2.1 per cent on Friday, climbing back above US$15 a bushel for the first time since mid-March after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s forecast for 2023 plantings and its March 1 soy stockpiles estimate both came in at the low end of trade expectations. Corn futures ended […] Read more





Emerging corn plants in Canada. (Sophie-Caron/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: More acres expected for U.S. corn, soybeans, wheat

USDA acreage projections due out March 31

MarketsFarm — With expectations of far fewer prevent-planting acres for 2023-24, Terry Reilly of Futures International has called for increases in planted area for corn, soybeans and wheat in the U.S. this spring. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is scheduled to release its planting projections on March 31. Reilly pegged planted corn acres at […] Read more

File photo of fresh palm fruits and palm oil. (Slpu9945/iStock/Getty Images)

USDA’s Indonesia desk predicts increased palm oil production

An El Nino event could weigh on that outlook

MarketsFarm — Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, is forecast to see a three per cent rise in production in 2023-24, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service post in Jakarta. The country’s USDA post anticipates 46 million tonnes of palm oil production, which would be up from 44.7 during […] Read more


CBOT May 2023 soft red winter wheat with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat at 18-month low on Black Sea deal hope

Soybeans boosted by slash to Argentina harvest

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures on Wednesday fell to their lowest point in 18 months on expectations for a Black Sea grains deal and continued poor demand for U.S. exports. “Wheat was down most of the day, initially on talk of corridor extension talks, then off a lackluster WASDE report,” Charlie Sernatinger of […] Read more

CBOT May 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn futures hit six-week low on projected plantings

Corn, soy, wheat prices to drop from 2022, USDA predicts

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures hit a six-week low on Thursday as the U.S. government projected farmers will plant more acres this year and prices will decline, analysts said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, at its annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, pegged 2023 corn plantings at 91 million acres, up from […] Read more


CBOT March 2023 soybeans with 20-day moving average (right column) and CBOT March 2023 soyoil (dark green line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn hit one-week highs on Argentina weather worries

Firmer U.S. dollar drags on CBOT wheat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures hit their highest in a week and soyoil touched a one-month peak on Tuesday as worries about crop prospects in drought-hit Argentina supported prices, analysts said. “It’s all about drought in Argentina… and adding more risk premium,” said Don Roose, president of Iowa-based U.S. Commodities. “The […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Values pull back from upper ranges

Early U.S. estimate of planting intentions due out next week

MarketsFarm — Despite some bullish influences, commodity prices at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) were stepping back in mid-February. That movement wasn’t a surprise to Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodity Brokers in Barrington, Ill. Prices for corn, soybeans and wheat had been at the upper end of their ranges, he said. “We are still […] Read more