Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — A strong U.S. dollar and China’s prolonged battle with African swine fever have turned Chicago Board of Trade markets largely bearish. “We’re seeing a slew of positive [economic] news out of the U.S., and a rallying dollar that has been strong for four out of five sessions,” said Terry Reilly, a grains analyst […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Currency, swine fever weigh on prices
Brazil urges China to improve GMO approvals
Reading Time: < 1 minute Brasilia | Reuters –– Brazil Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said on Thursday that the country must work with China to reduce non-tariff barriers to agriculture trade, including improving the process for genetically modified goods. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of soybeans, the vast majority of which are genetically modified organisms (GMO). Many newer GMOs, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs limit down on disappointing export sales
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures plunged on Thursday, with the five most actively traded contracts settling down the daily three-cent-per-pound limit after weekly U.S. export data showed no new pork sales to China, traders said. Live cattle and feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange also declined, pressured by long liquidation […] Read more
Bunge names acting chief as new CEO
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Global grains trader Bunge on Thursday named Gregory Heckman as its chief executive officer, three months after he took the helm in an interim capacity. Heckman, a founding partner of private investment firm Flatwater Partners and the former chief executive of grains trader Gavilon Group, was appointed acting CEO in January after long-serving […] Read more
Joint conference brings canola producers up to speed
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) and the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) have given farmers an update on the current situation between Canada and China. The 38-minute joint webinar/teleconference last Thursday (April 18) featured CCC president Jim Everson and CCGA executive director Rick White. Everson made it clear China is still honouring […] Read more
StatsCan confirms smaller canola acres, more wheat
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Canadian farmers intend to seed more spring wheat and less canola in 2019, according to Statistics Canada survey results released Wednesday. Additional shifts are also likely in subsequent reports, as dry conditions in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan may alter some intentions. Statistics Canada forecast canola area for 2019 at 21.3 million acres, which […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Acreage report halts canola skid
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm –– Statistics Canada’s acreage report has provided something of a much-needed bounce for canola bids. Canola hit a record low Tuesday, with the May contract at $437.80 per tonne and the July contract at $446.10 per tonne. The primary reason for the huge drop was the price of soybeans on the Chicago Board of […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soy drop to multimonth lows
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell to their lowest level in seven months on Wednesday and spot soybean futures hit a 5-1/2-month low on ample global supplies and dimming prospects for U.S. export business, analysts said. Wheat also declined, with Chicago Board of Trade futures hitting a one-month low while K.C. and Minneapolis […] Read more
Canadian farmers to reduce canola plantings by seven per cent
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | Reuters — Canadian farmers intend to plant seven per cent fewer acres of canola this spring compared with a year earlier, even less than expected by analysts and traders, as a dispute with China hampers demand, a government report showed on Wednesday. China and Canada are locked in a diplomatic and trade dispute […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hog futures fall on profit-taking
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures sagged on profit-taking on Tuesday after a recent run-up to contract highs, traders said. Live cattle futures also slumped at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The most actively traded June hogs contract has pulled back about 7.5 per cent after setting a contract high on April 5 on expectations […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
