New-crop CBOT December 2020 corn with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn drops after USDA pegs plantings above expectations

USDA forecasts largest U.S. corn acres in eight years

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures settled lower on Tuesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecast 2020 plantings at the largest in eight years, well above trade expectations, while soybeans firmed on a lower-than-anticipated acreage outlook. A tighter-than-expected USDA quarterly corn stocks estimate limited losses, but most contracts notched life-of-contract lows after […] Read more

(USDA.gov via Flickr)

U.S. projects wheat acres at record lows, increases for soy, corn

Grain stocks as of March 1 down on year

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — As with last year, total wheat acres in the United States are projected to remain at all-time lows, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The department issued its prospective plantings estimates Tuesday. MarketsFarm director of markets and weather Bruce Burnett called USDA’s wheat and soybean estimates positive, while he said its […] Read more


CBOT May 2020 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn slumps as ethanol makers feel coronavirus constraints

Market awaits USDA plantings, quarterly stocks data

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell more than one per cent on Monday on slowing grain demand from ethanol makers, as tightening coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions limited demand for the biofuel. Soybeans ended mixed, with nearby contracts lifted by firm soymeal prices and concerns coronavirus restrictions may impede South American soy shipments. Wheat […] Read more

Bulk wheat being loaded on a ship in a Russian port. (YGrek/iStock/Getty Images)

Global grain production to increase, IGC predicts

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — The International Grains Council (IGC) issued projections Thursday calling for a slight increase in total global grain production for the current marketing year and for 2020-21. The U.K.-based council forecast world production at 2.175 billion tonnes, which would be an increase of three million tonnes from its February report. The IGC said that’s […] Read more


CBOT May 2020 wheat with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat firm on Russia export quota plan

Chicago corn ends lower

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Friday on optimism about export prospects as a Russian plan to cap grain exports for the rest of the season shifted attention back to potential supply tensions during the coronavirus pandemic. However, futures pared gains on profit-taking ahead of the weekend and worries that the rally […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Funds reduce net short position in canola

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Fund traders were covering short positions in canola during the week ended Tuesday, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The net managed money short position in ICE Futures canola came in Tuesday at 48,614 contracts (886 long/49,500 short), a decrease of about […] Read more


CBOT May 2020 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat retreats from two-month peak

Corn rallies to end firm

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell on Thursday, retreating from a two-month high set the previous session, as traders booked profits and awaited developments in the coronavirus crisis that had sparked the recent run-up in wheat markets. Soybean futures also declined but corn rallied late in the session to eke out a modest […] Read more

CBOT May 2020 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat climbs on global demand for bread

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures surged on Wednesday, with the May contract on the Chicago Board of Trade hitting a two-month high on a mix of technical buying and global demand for bread as the coronavirus prompts consumer stockpiling, analysts said. Corn futures closed modestly higher while soybean futures turned lower. CBOT May […] Read more


CBOT May 2020 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn rebounds after multi-year lows

Soybeans firm, wheat sags

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose on Tuesday, clawing back from last week’s multi-year lows as traders covered short positions and farmer sales stalled, analysts said. Wheat futures declined, pressured by profit-taking after recent rallies, while soybeans closed modestly higher. Chicago Board of Trade May corn settled up 3-3/4 cents at $3.47-1/4 per […] Read more

(Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. sees progress on China trade deal’s ag provisions

China makes first U.S. hard red wheat buy since 2017

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — The U.S. and China have made progress in implementing the agriculture-related provisions of their Phase One trade deal that took effect on Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Trade Representative said on Tuesday. In a joint statement, they listed a number of steps taken that should help […] Read more