Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures hit a three-week high on Tuesday on confirmation of U.S. soy sales to top global importer China and signs of an improving export outlook, traders said. Wheat futures fell as the U.S. winter wheat harvest got rolling while corn ended modestly higher. Chicago Board of Trade July soybeans […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans up on China sales hopes
Wheat down on U.S. harvest; rains seen for Black Sea
With beer taps off, malt barley demand down
No significant drop in barley acres expected
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Declining beer consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic will also lead to reduced demand for the malt barley to brew it — but acreage to the crop is unlikely to see much adjustment on the Prairies. “I don’t think there’s any question — without sporting events, and festivals, and concerts – that beer […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs lower on China trade worries
CME live cattle close lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures fell Monday on worries that deteriorating relations between the United States and China, the world’s biggest pork importer, could inhibit U.S. pork sales to the Asian nation, traders said. China told state-owned firms to halt purchases of soybeans and pork from the United States, […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans end fractionally lower amid China trade woes
Corn pulls back on fair weather; wheat slips as U.S. harvest gets underway
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed fractionally lower after a choppy session on Monday as brokers weighed pressure from rising U.S.-China trade tensions against news of fresh U.S. soybean sales to the Asian country, traders said. Corn fell on an above-average planting pace and fair weather forecasts across the Midwest that should support […] Read more
China tells state firms to halt purchases of major U.S. farm products
Purchases of soybeans, pork, corn, cotton on hold
Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing/Singapore | Reuters –– China has told state-owned firms to halt purchases of soybeans and pork from the United States, two people familiar with the matter said, after Washington said it would eliminate special treatment for Hong Kong to punish Beijing. Large-volume state purchases of U.S. corn and cotton have also been put on hold, […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans slide on China tensions
Midwest weather poses risks for wheat
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures fell on Friday as escalating U.S.-China tensions over Beijing’s proposed restrictions on Hong Kong dampened markets after a week of gains. Three sources told Reuters China may reduce U.S. agricultural imports if Washington issues a severe response to Beijing’s push to impose national security laws on […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures end lower ahead of weekend
CME lean hogs mostly up
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures retreated on Friday in a profit-taking and technical selling setback ahead of the weekend amid weakening beef prices and concerns about lower-than-normal summer demand as much of the economy remains partially closed. Lean hog futures clawed back earlier losses to end mostly higher as an early drop […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs lower on China tensions
CME live cattle futures mostly higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures dropped by as much as the daily trading limit on Thursday on worries that rising tensions between Washington and Beijing could limit U.S. pork purchases by China, the world’s largest pork consumer. Sino-U.S. relations have worsened as the White House has threatened China with sanctions over its […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, wheat up as weather, currency spark short-covering
Hong Kong row tempers hopes of China demand for U.S. soy
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures jumped on Thursday to a five-week high as a weaker dollar, forecasts for hotter, drier weather in the Midwest corn belt and a further rebound in ethanol production triggered bargain buying and short-covering by managed funds. Wheat futures also rallied on expanding dryness across the Plains wheat belt […] Read more
Huawei extradition ruling could unleash more Chinese backlash
More punitive trade measures expected
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — A British Columbia court ruling that could permit the extradition of a senior Huawei executive to the U.S. leaves Canada vulnerable to further retaliation from Beijing, analysts said. Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on Wednesday lost a challenge to a U.S. bid to extradite her to face bank fraud charges, […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
