Average sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies over the Pacific Ocean for the week centred on Dec. 5. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

U.S. forecaster sees 90 per cent chance of El Nino in winter

Reuters — There is a 90 per cent chance of the El Nino weather pattern emerging during the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2018-19, a U.S. government weather forecaster said on Thursday. “The official forecast favours the formation of a weak El Nino,” the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said in a monthly forecast. […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. House approves farm bill without tighter food stamps criteria

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

CBOT January 2019 soybeans with 20-day moving average. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans rise as China buys U.S. supplies

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

(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. grains: Soy climbs on hopes for China buying

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed higher on Tuesday as traders anticipated potential Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products, and shrugged off a bearish monthly global soy inventories report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn firmed, led by soybeans, but wheat futures fell after USDA raised its forecasts of U.S. and global […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Bunge CEO Schroder to step down amid investor pressure

Reuters — Bunge CEO Soren Schroder is stepping down after five years at the helm of the global agribusiness, following months of pressure from shareholders to shake up the company amid a prolonged grain market slump. The management change is the latest event to rattle the two-century-old commodities trader after a stretch of particularly weak […] Read more


CBOT March 2019 wheat with 20-day moving average. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy, wheat decline on persistent demand worries

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soy and wheat futures fell on Monday on positioning ahead of a monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture crop supply/demand report and uncertainty about the ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute, traders said. A higher dollar added pressure, making U.S. grains less competitive on global markets. Corn followed the weak trend but found […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Bunge reportedly ready to replace CEO

Reuters — Bunge Ltd. is preparing to replace its CEO Soren Schroder as the global grains trader faces investor pressure, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing sources. The company is expected to announce the CEO’s departure in the coming days, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. The grains trader was […] Read more

CBOT January 2019 soybeans, with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

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

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures firmed for the fifth time in six sessions on Friday on solid weekly export sales data and short-covering ahead of the weekend as the market waited for signs that China may soon resume purchases from the United States. Corn also advanced and wheat climbed to a 5-1/2 week […] Read more