U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 20, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Joshua Roberts)

Trump questions request for Chinese delay on farm trip

Reading Time: 2 minutes United Nations | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday questioned a decision by his top trade negotiators to ask Chinese officials to delay a planned trip to U.S. farming regions after trade talks last week, saying he wanted China to buy more U.S. farm products. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters at […] Read more


A macrophage (immune response) cell in early stages of infection with African swine fever virus, magnified about 1,000x. (Keith Weller photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

South Korea confirms new cases of African swine fever

Reading Time: < 1 minute Seoul | Reuters — South Korea has confirmed new cases of African swine fever at hog farms in cities near the capital Seoul after the country’s first outbreak of the deadly virus last week, the agriculture ministry said on Monday. The new case occurred at a pig farm with about 1,800 pigs in the city […] Read more

MGEX December 2019 spring wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Minneapolis, K.C. wheat futures rise

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Monday, rebounding from a sharp drop on Friday, on fresh export deals with China and rising concerns that rains in the U.S. Midwest could lower crop quality just ahead of harvest, traders said. The adverse weather also supported corn futures while wheat futures were mixed. The […] Read more



CBOT November 2019 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands, a gauge of market volatility. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans down on China trade pessimism

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell more than one per cent on Friday to the lowest in a week on rising doubts about a breakthrough in U.S.-China trade talks and forecasts for favourable crop weather across the U.S. Midwest. Corn and wheat also declined, following soybeans, although both grains closed with modest weekly […] Read more



File photo of cattle on grass in Montana. (Franckreporter/E+/Getty Images)

Hopes for trade breakthrough fade as China cancels U.S. farm visits

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — A U.S.-China trade deal appeared elusive on Friday after Chinese officials unexpectedly canceled a visit to farms in Montana and Nebraska amid two days of ongoing talks in Washington. Chinese officials were expected to visit U.S. farmers next week as a goodwill gesture, but canceled to return to China sooner than […] Read more


CBOT November 2019 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy firm on export sales, trade optimism

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures firmed on Thursday as strong weekly export sales data and hopes for progress toward a U.S.-China trade deal more than offset pressure from a crop-boosting Midwest weather forecast. Corn also rose as the market weighed favourable harvest weather against signs of improved demand for the grain, while wheat […] Read more

CME October 2019 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures top one-month peaks

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle and feeder cattle futures jumped to their highest prices since August on Wednesday as traders predicted that cash prices will also increase. October live cattle futures closed up 1.025 cents at 100.375 cents/lb. at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). October feeder cattle advanced 1.1 cents to 138.4 cents/lb. […] Read more