CME February 2020 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs limit down on profit-taking, Middle East tensions

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures tumbled by the daily trading limit to a three-week low on Friday as rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East triggered profit-taking, analysts said. Losses hit markets after a U.S. air strike in Iraq killed Iran’s most prominent military commander, rattling traders of products from agricultural futures to […] Read more

CBOT March 2020 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy hit 2018 highs

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures hit 2018 highs to start the new year as traders continued to expect increased Chinese demand once Washington and Beijing ink an initial trade deal. The gains on Thursday extended annual advances from 2019, a year marked by farmer stress over the U.S.-China trade war and […] Read more


CME February 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures touch seven-week high

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures kicked off 2020 by approaching seven-week highs in gains driven by increasing expectations for bigger sales of American pork to China. China, the world’s largest pork consumer, needs larger imports to offset a domestic meat shortage caused by an outbreak of the fatal pig disease African swine fever. […] Read more

A canyon on China’s frontier with Kazakhstan. (Luxiangjian4711/iStock/Getty Images)

China eases customs curbs for soy imports through northern border

Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing | Reuters — China has eased customs regulations on imports of soybean through some northern border checkpoints, the commerce ministry said, a move that could smooth the way for shipments from neighbours such as Kazakhstan, Russia and perhaps Ukraine. The changes come as China looks to diversify soybean imports amid trade tension with the […] Read more





A BASF scientist examines transgenic corn plants. (BASF.com)

China approves two new GM crops from U.S. for import

Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing | Reuters — China approved two new genetically modified (GM) crops for import on Monday that could boost agricultural purchases from the United States, while renewing permits for 10 others, the Chinese agriculture ministry said. Earlier this month, Beijing and Washington announced a Phase 1 trade deal, under which China has agreed to import […] Read more

CBOT March 2020 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans set highest price since June 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures on Monday rose to their highest price since June 2018 on expectations that Washington and Beijing will soon sign an initial trade deal that will increase American agricultural exports. China agreed to import more U.S. farm goods under the Phase 1 deal struck this month, providing support for […] Read more



CME February 2020 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs stumble as supply trumps Chinese demand

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures dropped on Friday as pressure from large domestic supplies overshadowed an uptick in pork sales to China. Traders are keeping an eye on Chinese demand because China, the world’s biggest pork consumer, is grappling with a fatal pig disease, African swine fever. Farmers are hoping China will further […] Read more