(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. farmers expected to get third and final tranche of trade aid

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said he expected the federal government to pay farmers a third and final tranche of 2019 trade aid a day after an initial deal with China was signed, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. Washington and Beijing signed the Phase One pact on Wednesday, setting trade tensions between […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Corn, soy to one-month lows

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. corn and soybean futures hit one-month lows on Thursday and wheat futures followed amid doubts about whether China will make the purchases from the United States promised in a trade deal between the two countries, analysts said. Chicago Board of Trade March corn futures tumbled three per cent, settling down […] Read more


A cargo ship is loaded with Brazilian soybeans bound for China. (Photo: Reuters/Paulo Whitaker)

Trade deal will not affect China’s other ag suppliers, Liu says

Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing | Reuters — China’s other suppliers of agricultural commodities will not be impacted by the Sino-U.S. trade deal since buying will be based on market principles, Vice-Premier Liu He said, according to a report from state-owned CCTV on Thursday. Liu was speaking on Wednesday at a press briefing after signing the Phase One trade […] Read more

Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands after signing “Phase One” of a U.S.-China trade agreement during a ceremony at the White House in Washington on Jan. 15, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

U.S., China reset trade relationship with Phase One agreement

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — The United States and China announced an initial trade deal on Wednesday that will roll back some tariffs and boost Chinese purchases of U.S. goods and services, defusing an 18-month conflict between the world’s two largest economies. Beijing and Washington have portrayed their “Phase One” agreement as a momentous step after […] Read more


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

U.S. grains: Wheat hits six-month top as world prices rise

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures hit a six-month high on Tuesday, supported by a pickup in export business and news that Russia, the world’s top wheat supplier, is considering limiting grain exports through June, traders said. Soybean futures ended flat and corn drifted lower as brokers awaited Wednesday’s signing of a U.S.-China Phase […] Read more

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

U.S. grains: Soybeans bounce on China trade hopes

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures recovered slightly on Monday from steep declines in the previous session as hopes for improved exports to China outweighed worries about rising tensions in the Middle East. Corn and wheat futures declined on technical selling and profit-taking from last week’s multi-month highs and as investors look ahead to […] Read more


A canyon on China’s frontier with Kazakhstan. (Luxiangjian4711/iStock/Getty Images)

China eases customs curbs for soy imports through northern border

Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing | Reuters — China has eased customs regulations on imports of soybean through some northern border checkpoints, the commerce ministry said, a move that could smooth the way for shipments from neighbours such as Kazakhstan, Russia and perhaps Ukraine. The changes come as China looks to diversify soybean imports amid trade tension with the […] Read more