Reading Time: 4 minutes Washington | Reuters — President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would delay an increase in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods thanks to “productive” trade talks and that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping would meet to seal a deal if progress continued. The announcement was the clearest sign yet that China and the U.S. […] Read more
Trump delays tariff hike on Chinese goods, citing trade talk progress
CBOT weekly outlook: Soy in ‘little bit of a free fall’
Reading Time: 2 minutes Soybeans, wheat and corn have been trading generally lower of late on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). In particular soybeans are in “a little bit of a free fall,” said Terry Reilly, senior agriculture futures analyst with Futures International in Chicago. “It’s purely technical. We closed below the 100-day moving average (Tuesday) based on […] Read more
U.S. EPA wins new chance to argue against pesticide ban
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The Trump administration has persuaded a U.S. appeals court to reconsider its recent decision ordering the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the widely-used pesticide chlorpyrifos, which critics say can harm children and farmers. In an order on Wednesday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it will again review former EPA administrator […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans hit two-week high
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed to a two-week high on Friday on worries about the size of Brazil’s crop and short-covering ahead of planned U.S.-China trade talks next week, traders said. Corn firmed, following strength in soybeans, while wheat drifted lower, pressured by news that a private forecaster had raised its estimate […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy, corn sag on uncertainty over China trade talks
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures fell to session lows on Tuesday on reports that the Trump administration turned down Chinese offers this week for preparatory trade talks, brokers said. The declines in corn and soybeans also pared advances in wheat futures, which nonetheless ended higher on signs of tightening Russian supplies. […] Read more
As loans and aid dry up, U.S. farmers face fresh challenge from shutdown
Reading Time: 3 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. farmers, already battered by the U.S.-China trade war, are facing increasing anxiety as the partial government shutdown nears the two-week mark, leaving crucial aid and loan payments in limbo. The shutdown has blocked assistance for many farmers, who at this time of year apply for federal loans as they pay […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: Canola waits for U.S. shutdown to end
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — The ICE Futures canola market, like its fellow commodity markets, currently sits at the mercy of the U.S. government shutdown, according to one analyst. “It all has to do with the government shutdown in the States. Soybeans keep on rallying, than they lose ground towards the end of the session, because how […] Read more
U.S. confirms China soybean purchase, but no clarity over more sales
Reading Time: 3 minutes Chicago/Washington | Reuters — U.S. government officials on Thursday hailed China’s first meager purchase of U.S. soybeans since its trade war with the United States began in July and said they hoped for, but could not guarantee, more to come. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced private sales of 1.13 million tonnes of U.S. […] Read more
U.S. House approves farm bill without tighter food stamps criteria
Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the farm bill on Wednesday, capping months of acrimonious debate to finalize the legislation funding the nation’s US$867 billion food and agriculture programs. The bill, which passed by a vote of 369 to 47, will be submitted to President Donald Trump for his signature into […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans rise as China buys U.S. supplies
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures hit a 4-1/2-month high on Wednesday as China bought U.S. soybeans for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in early December. State-owned Chinese companies bought at least 500,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans, two U.S. traders said, in deals valued […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
