Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures closed higher on Wednesday on light short covering, one day after the spot contract fell about one per cent on better-than-expected U.S. wheat condition ratings. Corn futures firmed while soybeans ended flat after a choppy session. Chicago Board of Trade July wheat settled up three cents at $4.32-1/2 […] Read more
Cereals

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn firm on short covering

CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soy rangebound
CNS Canada –– Corn and soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade are expected to hold near-term ranges, as traders decide where to lay their focus amid a mix of factors. “Weather will dominate; that’s no surprise to anybody,” said Sean Lusk of Walsh Trading. That influence is likely to have a supportive effect […] Read more

Lower North American durum acres keep attention on yields
CNS Canada — North America’s smaller durum acreage base in 2017 could give prices a boost later in the growing season, depending on how yields shape up for the new crop, according to a U.S. analyst. Disease issues in 2016 and better projected returns for other crops in 2017 are expected to lead to a […] Read more

Glencore looking to expand agriculture business, CEO says
Cham, Switzerland | Reuters –– Miner and trader Glencore is looking to expand its agriculture business via its partnership with two Canadian funds, the company’s CEO said on Wednesday, but has no plans to move into any commodities it does not already trade. CEO Ivan Glasenberg was speaking a day after U.S. grains trader Bunge […] Read more

Deadline extended for comment on cash ticket deferral
Public consultations on the income tax treatment of deferred grain cash tickets, with an eye toward “potential elimination” of farmers’ option to defer grain income, have been extended by two months. The federal government on Tuesday said the consultation, first announced in Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s March budget and due to end Wednesday, will instead […] Read more

Soggy forecast worries Prairie farmers in race to seed crops
Winnipeg | Reuters — Heavy rain forecast for the soggiest parts of the Prairies this week is likely to further delay seeding in the world’s biggest canola-exporting country, meteorologists say. The rain, forecast to hit Alberta and Saskatchewan on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, would be the latest blow to farmers who could not harvest all […] Read more

U.S. farm groups oppose Trump’s cuts to ag spending
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. farm groups on Tuesday pushed back against President Donald Trump’s proposal to slash agriculture spending, viewing it as a fresh threat to a struggling farm economy. The White House on Monday proposed $46.54 billion in cuts to federal government funding for the agriculture sector over the next 10 years, including […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn falls on reassuring crop progress data
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell 1.5 per cent on Tuesday, halting a two-session advance as weekly U.S. planting progress data eased concerns about rain-related delays in the Midwest, analysts said. Soybean and wheat futures also declined, with wheat pressured by better-than-expected weekly U.S. condition ratings. Chicago Board of Trade July corn settled […] Read more

Glencore approaches Bunge on possible takeover
Reuters — Glencore Plc said on Tuesday its agricultural unit has made an informal approach to commodities trader Bunge Ltd. about a “possible consensual business combination,” the company said in a statement. The commodities trading firm did not say more about a potential offer that its Glencore Agriculture unit made to Bunge. Glencore, whose Canadian […] Read more

CHS replaces CEO after earnings decline, Brazil exposure
Chicago | Reuters — CHS Inc., the biggest U.S. agricultural co-operative, named a new chief executive on Monday, after suffering a sharp decline in income and confirming it was a creditor of a failing Brazilian commodities trader. Minnesota-based CHS picked Jay Debertin to take over immediately for Carl Casale, who had been CEO for six […] Read more