Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed slightly firm on Thursday, supported by hopes that stepped-up exports to Europe would make up for business lost in a trade fight with China, traders said. Corn futures also settled in positive territory while wheat was mostly lower, weighed down by technical selling. Soybeans, corn and wheat […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy, corn futures close firm

GMO rules cover plant gene editing technique, top EU court says
Brussels | Reuters — Crops obtained by plant breeding technique mutagenesis should fall under laws restricting the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Europe’s highest court said on Wednesday, in a victory for environmental campaigners. The biotech industry had argued that much of mutagenesis, or gene editing, is effectively little different to the mutagenesis that […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat near limit-up on yield concerns
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures surged on Wednesday, supported by concerns about crop shortfalls in key production areas around the globe, traders said. The strength in wheat lifted corn futures to their highest in more than three weeks. Corn also received support from concerns about dry conditions limiting harvest yields in parts of […] Read more

Mexico, Canada insist on three-way NAFTA deal
Mexico City | Reuters — Canadian and Mexican officials insisted that the North American Free Trade Agreement remain a trilateral pact on Wednesday and reiterated their opposition to U.S. calls for a so-called “sunset clause” that could end the deal after five years. After a meeting in Mexico City, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and […] Read more

Canada’s new export minister to push beyond U.S. market
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada has created a new federal cabinet position to help exporters look beyond the U.S. and there will be resources for small businesses that want to take advantage of new trade deals, the new minister for export promotion said on Tuesday. Mary Ng, who vaulted to cabinet-level last week to take […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy jumps as U.S. readies aid for farmers
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed to two-week highs on Tuesday as the Trump administration said it would provide up to US$12 billion in aid to shield U.S. farmers from economic pain stemming from trade disputes. The program will include direct payments for farmers, and those who grow soybeans are expected to be […] Read more

Trump to offer U.S. farmers billions to ease trade pain
Washington/Kansas City | Reuters — The Trump administration on Tuesday said it would provide up to US$12 billion in aid for U.S. farmers to shield them from the repercussions felt by trade spats between the United States and China, the European Union and others. China has targeted U.S. agricultural exports with tariffs in retaliation to […] Read more

Ag in Motion sets single-day record
Glacier FarmMedia’s outdoor farm show Ag in Motion has wrapped its 2018 edition and booked a single-day record for attendance. The show, held July 17-19 near Langham, Sask., northwest of Saskatoon, reported three-day attendance of 30,355, including record attendance of 11,425 on the Wednesday. That single-day gate included more attendees than the three-day total for […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat retreats after nearing six-week peak
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures pulled back on Monday after approaching a six-week high on concerns about dry weather eating into harvests in some of the world’s main exporting countries. Corn futures advanced for the sixth consecutive session to reach their highest prices in three weeks, while soybeans neared a two-week high before […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat up on technical buying, export hopes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures sailed to their highest prices in more than a month on Friday on technical buying and expectations for increased U.S. exports as poor crop weather hurts harvests in other countries. Corn and soybean futures each advanced for the fifth straight day. Traders focused on dry weather reducing harvest […] Read more