Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures climbed on Thursday on export optimism and positioning ahead of the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly supply and demand report, out on Friday, traders said. Wheat gained as frigid temperatures across Europe and the Black Sea region threatened crops. Soybeans were also firmer. The most-active corn contract on the […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn climbs on exports, ethanol
Dry weather expected to slow U.S. spring wheat seeding; soy steady ahead of WASDE
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs strengthen on strong demand, firm exports
Live cattle down despite beef, cash strength
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed higher on Thursday as tight supply and firm export demand offered support, analysts said. “A lot of that has to do with COVID and the pent-up demand we have, with more things opening up,” said Joe Kooima, commodity broker at Kooima […] Read more
Spring wheat slowly regains premiums
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Nearby Minneapolis spring wheat contracts have historically traded at a premium compared to their Chicago and Kansas City soft wheat counterparts. And after a winter during which that premium had all but disappeared, spring wheat has so far made gains in 2021. Since the start of the year, both spring wheat contracts have […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola fundamentals still strong in volatile market
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — ICE Futures canola contracts moved higher during the week ended Wednesday, with the largest gains in the old-crop months amid ongoing concerns over tight supplies. Day-to-day activity could remain volatile at times, but underlying fundamentals should remain supportive heading into the 2021 growing season, according to an analyst. While canola futures have traded […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat lifted on spring planting concerns
Near-term tightness in world supply underpins soy, corn
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures gained on Wednesday, following the Minneapolis Grain Exchange’s hard red spring wheat higher on concerns that dryness across the U.S. Great Plains could affect spring wheat plantings. Chicago corn gained ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly supply and demand report on Friday, which is expected to […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs gain as swine fever worries open up export markets
Boxed beef values lift live cattle futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange jumped higher on Wednesday on fears of African swine fever rising across parts of Asia, as well as tight domestic supply as the U.S. rebuilds its hog herd after culling during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, analysts said. The Philippines reduced […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle up with consumer beef demand
Demand, cash prices also support hogs
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed higher on Tuesday, supported by strong consumer beef demand and a firming cash beef market, analysts said. “The demand for protein is strong,” said Altin Kalo, economist at Steiner Consulting Group. It’s people getting ready for the spring and restaurants opening […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans rise on tight near-term supply
CBOT corn mixed, wheat lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures gained on Tuesday as traders assessed the impact of a lower-than-expected U.S. plantings forecast and a rain-delayed harvest in Brazil on ever-tightening supplies of the oilseed. Corn futures were mixed, with old-crop contracts rising slightly as investors adjusted positions ahead of a monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture world […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs set new contract highs
June hogs turn lower before close
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Strong meat demand pushed U.S. live cattle and lean hog futures to new contract highs on Monday. The cattle market benefited from increasing demand for beef as the U.S. is entering the summer grilling season, analysts said. Prices for choice cuts of boxed beef soared by $5.82, to $258.67/cwt, while select […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybean futures advance on supply concerns
Traders watch U.S. planting progress, crop weather
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures jumped on Monday on concerns about U.S. supplies dwindling due to strong export demand and smaller-than-expected plantings. The U.S. Department of Agriculture shocked traders last week by reporting that U.S. farmers plan to sow 87.6 million acres with soybeans this spring and 91.1 million acres […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
