Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Canada’s canola acres are generally expected to be higher in the first area report of the year from Statistics Canada, compared to the 20.96 million acres estimated to have been seeded in 2019. Estimates are wide-ranging, with some analysts predicting a slight reduction in canola area and others calling for an increase of […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola acres could be in flux
CBOT weekly outlook: Corn could move below $3, analyst says
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade have lost considerable ground over the past few months, but could move lower still if a weather premium fails to develop over the summer, according to an analyst. The most active July corn contract has lost 20 per cent of its value since the beginning […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn end lower as demand flags
Wheat pressured by improved Northern Hemisphere weather
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures settled lower on Wednesday, as continued weak demand due to the coronavirus epidemic and renewed U.S.-China trade tensions offset support from a flurry of commodity purchases by top importer China. Corn also slipped, following a pullback in crude oil, while wheat eased as beneficial rain for Northern Hemisphere […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs slide after three days of gains
"The workers are spooked to come to work"
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle and hog futures retreated on Tuesday in a profit-taking setback after three sessions of gains that were fueled by rising meat prices and concerns about meat shortages as several packing plants have closed due to coronavirus infections among workers. Benchmark June lean hog futures corrected after gaining nearly 18 […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn gains with rising crude, limited by early planting
Soybeans rise on sale to China, despite tariff talk
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures gained on Tuesday, following energy markets higher on hopes of renewed ethanol fuel demand as lockdowns ease, but were capped by ahead-of-schedule planting across the U.S. Midwest, analysts said. Soybeans climbed on confirmation of new sales to China, even as the United States renewed tariff threats over China’s […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans tumble as China spat piles on demand worries
Grain markets hit by drop in demand for feed, biofuel
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean and corn futures slid on Monday as rising tensions between Washington and Beijing raised concern about further demand risk, on top of coronavirus disruptions to biofuel and livestock feed markets. Favourable crop weather also weighed on prices as planting advanced in the U.S. Midwest while rain across Europe looks […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures inch up as plants reopen
Rising wholesale prices support futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog and live cattle futures closed higher on Monday, as meat processing facilities began to open after closures of more than 20 plants due to coronavirus illnesses among workers. Rising pork and beef cutout prices have also helped give futures a boost on Monday, said Mark Schultz, chief analyst […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans slide on renewed trade tensions with China
Corn, wheat also fall on heightened trade tensions
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures declined on Friday as renewed concern about trade tensions between the United States and China overshadowed fresh export sales to the world’s largest soybean consumer. Corn and wheat futures also fell on uncertain feed demand and good weather across much of the U.S. Midwest that signaled another strong […] Read more
Grains, oilseeds, pulses hold their own amid pandemic
Reading Time: 3 minutes MarketsFarm — Prices for grains, oilseeds and pulses are not as bad off as livestock values are due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Neil Townsend, chief market analyst for FarmLink Solutions in Winnipeg. FarmLink hosted a webinar Wednesday to provide its outlook for the coming crop year. One thing Townsend stressed was there is […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs climb on strong pork exports, wholesale prices
Packer margins, wholesale beef prices support live cattle futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Thursday as bullish weekly U.S. pork export data and rising wholesale prices overshadowed worries about a slowdown in the U.S. hog slaughter pace backing up hog supplies, traders said. “You’ve got a combination of export sales being strong (and) the wholesale market trading very firm […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
