Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures firmed on Monday, reaching a 3-1/2 week high on fresh export sales to top global buyer China, traders said. Corn and wheat futures drifted lower as traders adjusted positions a day ahead of a monthly supply/demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in which analysts expect the […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans up on export demand
USDA data awaited
U.S. livestock: Cash cattle, futures up on beef packer scrutiny
Profit-taking continues to drag on lean hogs
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose on Friday along with cash prices as the federal government probed the beef market. The price of cattle in the cash market has rebounded since U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he had urged the federal Justice Department to look into allegations that the meatpacking […] Read more
Funds cover canola shorts, but still bearish on corn
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Speculators reduced their net short position in canola during the first week of May and added to their net long position in soybeans, while placing fresh bearish bets on corn, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The net managed money short position […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans climb on Chinese buying ahead of crop report
Wheat wrestles with demand concerns, weather woes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago soybean futures climbed for a second session to a three-week high on Friday as Chinese buying underpinned prices and traders squared positions ahead of a supply and demand report due next Tuesday. Corn also rose on word China may increase agricultural buying to fulfill commitments laid out in January under […] Read more
U.S. livestock: June cattle limit up on surging beef prices, meat shortages
Lean hogs down on profit-taking
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures surged by their daily trading limits for a second straight session on Thursday on soaring beef prices and concerns about meat shortages because of recent packing plant closures due to the coronavirus. Shuttered slaughterhouses across North America due to the pandemic have left ranchers nowhere to ship […] Read more
U.S. grains: Futures rebound on Chinese buying, Midwest frost concerns
Freezing forecast raises concern about Midwest crops
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures prices rebounded on Thursday on renewed Chinese buying of corn and soy and as forecasts for sub-freezing temperatures across the country stoked concerns that some vulnerable crops may sustain damage. Gains, however, were tempered by plentiful supplies and worries about demand as traders started positioning ahead […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola acres could be in flux
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
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: Futures surge on technical buying as plants reopen
CME cattle futures close limit up
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle and hog futures rose on Wednesday amid a flurry of technical buying — with some live and feeder cattle futures surging to daily trading limits — as investors said they were keeping a close eye on signs of packing plants reopening in the wake of coronavirus infections among workers. […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
