Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is opening an inquiry into the impacts of concentration in the fertilizer, seed and retail markets. The inquiry stems from the Biden administration’s July 2021 executive order to promote competition across the U.S. economy, the agency said in a release Friday. Global supply chain problems and inflation have […] Read more
USDA opens inquiry into fertilizer, seed prices
U.S. grains: Wheat futures limit down as USDA cuts exports
Corn pressured by oil prices, soybeans pare gains
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures hit their daily trading limit on the downside for the second straight day on Wednesday, as the U.S. government cut domestic wheat exports and global markets continue to be roiled by supply disruptions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Soybean futures turned lower after the U.S. Department of […] Read more
Early USDA forecast points to record-large 2022 soybean crop
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Farmers in the U.S. could grow a record-large soybean crop in 2022, according to early predictions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture released at their annual Agricultural Outlook Forum (AOF) on Thursday. The government agency forecast soybean plantings in the country at 88 million acres, which would be up by 800,000 from the […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Russia-Ukraine tensions fuelling rallies
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Russia’s incursion into Ukrainian territory, which has intensified an already tense standoff between Russia and the West, has had a bullish effect for grain prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) during the week ended Tuesday, according to Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodity Brokers at Lake Barrington, Ill. The March corn contract […] Read more
Second Nova Scotia poultry operation hit with avian flu
U.S. also books outbreaks in two states
Reading Time: 2 minutes A second farm in western Nova Scotia has been hit with highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial birds, further expanding containment measures in that province. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday it confirmed high-path H5N1 on Wednesday last week in birds at a mixed farm in the area, where operations include poultry and poultry […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soy futures set eight-month highs
USDA lowers South America corn, soy crop estimates
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybean and corn futures set eight-month highs on Wednesday on concerns about the risk for more unfavorable crop weather in drought-stressed growing areas of South America, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a monthly crop report, pegged Brazil’s soy crop at 134 million tonnes, […] Read more
P.E.I. potato exports cleared for Puerto Rico
U.S. territory has no commercial potato production
Reading Time: 3 minutes A U.S. territory with an appetite for Canadian potatoes and no commercial potato production to speak of will be able to resume imports of table stock potatoes from Prince Edward Island starting Wednesday. The resumption of exports to Puerto Rico, announced Tuesday, is a spot of good news for the province’s potato sector. Export certificates […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans dip ahead of USDA report
Wheat underpinned by U.S. dryness
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean prices fell on Tuesday, a day after hitting an eight-month high, ahead of the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly global supply and demand assessment that is expected to downgrade South American crop production. Corn also eased, while wheat firmed, underpinned by ongoing dryness across the U.S. southern Plains. The Chicago […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans rise on South American crop shortfall
Corn, wheat also up
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures were steady to mostly higher on Friday near an eight-month peak as some traders pocketed profits from strong gains this week, but the market remained underpinned by concerns about weather-reduced yields in South America. Corn was also steady to firmer, while wheat futures rose in a short-covering and […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn sags on export worries
Soy ends lower after volatile session
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell on Thursday on profit-taking after this week’s multi-month highs and worries about export demand after China canceled a purchase of U.S. supplies, traders said. Wheat sagged on poor weekly export data and a lack of fresh supportive news while soybean futures posted modest losses after a volatile, […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
