Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — A storm packing hurricane-force winds on Monday impacted 37.7 million acres of farmland across the Midwest, including 14 million in Iowa, the Iowa Soybean Association said on Friday, citing estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The toll from the derecho storm has worsened as farmers and grain handlers have spent […] Read more
Monday’s storm hit an estimated 37.7 million acres in U.S. Midwest
U.S. livestock: Live cattle set five-month high, beef prices rise more
USDA cuts pork production forecast
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures leapt to a five-month high on Wednesday and feeder cattle futures neared a six-month peak as boxed beef prices continued to rise. Meatpackers are paying more for cattle due to the strength of the beef market, traders said. Prices typically rise heading into Labour Day, […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn up after USDA confirms massive U.S. crops
Traders assessing damage from Midwest storm Monday
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures rose on Wednesday as short-covering and position-squaring emerged after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed expectations for massive crops, traders said. USDA, in a monthly report, said U.S. farmers will reap their biggest corn harvest and second-biggest soybean harvest, thanks to favourable weather. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise with U.S. beef prices
Chicago lean hogs retreat
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures advanced on Tuesday, supported by increasing beef prices, traders said. Beef prices usually rise heading into Labour Day, and there is a feeling the market has bottomed after recent volatility, said Don Roose, president of Iowa-based broker U.S. Commodities. Prices for choice cuts of boxed […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn futures tread water as Midwest’s farmers assess storm damage
Analysts still expect large U.S. harvest
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures ended flat on Tuesday as traders and analysts predicted that farmers will harvest a large crop despite a damaging storm that tore across the U.S. Midwest on Monday. Soybean futures were steady, while wheat futures rose on technical buying. Farmers are assessing the damage to their corn from […] Read more
U.S. warns against planting unsolicited seeds from China
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday warned residents against planting unsolicited packages of seeds arriving from China because they could harm the environment. At least eight states, from Washington to Ohio, have also told residents in recent days not to put the seeds in the ground, after they arrived apparently […] Read more
U.S. meatpackers try air cleaning tech after COVID-19 outbreaks
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Two of the world’s largest meatpackers said on Friday they have installed ultraviolet air cleaning equipment in some U.S. plants, as pressure mounts on food companies to protect workers amid growing concerns about airborne transmission of the coronavirus. JBS USA, owned by Brazil’s JBS SA and one of four major U.S. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures weaken, cattle futures advance
Cattle values rise as corn values drop
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures on Friday pulled back from a rally the previous session as large supplies and doubts about Chinese imports weighed on the market, analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) August lean hog futures settled down 0.35 cent at 49.875 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The contract has rebounded slightly since […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans drop on favourable weather
Chicago wheat jumps
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures prices fell on Friday on expectations for beneficial rains in crop-growing areas and as President Donald Trump said the country’s relationship with trading partner China was severely damaged. A monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report pegged America’s harvests below analysts’ expectations, although the estimates were […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat futures top two-month high on global harvest worries
Corn, soybeans firm as U.S. weather looks hotter, drier
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures on Thursday leapt to their highest prices in more than two months as the latest crop estimates in major exporting countries like Argentina, France and Russia raised questions about global supply. Corn and soybean futures also strengthened, as weather forecasts predicted more heat and dryness […] Read more