(Dave Bedard photo)

New Trump aid plan for U.S. farmers to rely on direct payments

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration’s second package of aid for U.S. farmers hit by the trade war with China is expected to have a similar structure to last year’s program, using direct payments and commodity purchases, industry sources briefed on the plan said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is still finalizing the plan, […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Corn, soy rally as slow planting pace ignites short-covering

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures climbed more than three per cent on Tuesday and soybeans bounced back from a decade low as planting delays in the Midwest crop belt sparked a round of short-covering, analysts said. Additional support stemmed from optimistic comments from Washington and Beijing that tempered concerns about a further escalation […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures bounce, cattle end lower

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) closed higher on Tuesday in a technical rebound after Monday’s limit-down close, with firm cash hog values lending support, traders said. Technical traders were encouraged that the benchmark June hog contract was able to hold above Monday’s low, a supportive chart […] Read more

CME June 2019 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs limit down on trade war woes

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) fell the daily three-cent-per-pound limit on Monday as fears of a prolonged trade war between the U.S. and China triggered long liquidation, analysts said. China said it would impose higher tariffs on a range of U.S. goods, following Washington’s decision last […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Trump says more farm aid coming amid China trade war

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — President Donald Trump said on Monday that his administration was planning to provide about US$15 billion in aid to help U.S. farmers whose products may be targeted with tariffs by China amid a deepening trade war. “We’re going to take the highest year, the biggest purchase that China has ever made […] Read more

(USDA.gov via Flickr)

U.S. plans more aid for farmers amid China trade spat

Reading Time: 3 minutes Chicago/Washington | Reuters — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Friday that President Donald Trump had asked him to create a plan to help U.S. farmers cope with the heavy impact of the U.S.-China trade war on agriculture. A new aid program would be the second round of assistance for farmers, after the Department […] Read more