A cargo ship is loaded with Brazilian soybeans bound for China. (Photo: Reuters/Paulo Whitaker)

Trump, citing U.S. farmers, slaps metal tariffs on Brazil, Argentina

Washington/Rio de Janeiro | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump ambushed Brazil and Argentina on Monday, announcing tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum imports from the two countries in a measure that shocked South American officials and left them scrambling for answers. In an early morning tweet, Trump said the tariffs, “effective immediately,” were necessary […] Read more


CBOT December 2019 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat futures climb on short-covering

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures hit their highest in nearly a week on Tuesday as declining U.S. wheat condition ratings and worries about Southern Hemisphere crop prospects fueled a round of short-covering, analysts said. Corn firmed on signs of improving export prospects and soybean futures closed modestly higher. Chicago Board of Trade December […] Read more

CBOT December 2019 wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat eases in profit-taking setback

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures declined on Monday on profit taking after three sessions of gains, on concerns about weather-reduced Southern Hemisphere crops that had lifted the market to multi-month highs. Soybeans were mixed amid worries about reduced yields and late harvesting, while corn drifted lower on dull demand. Both markets remained in […] Read more



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CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soy prices to continue climbing

MarketsFarm — Prices on the Chicago Board of Trade will probably continue to climb, especially for corn and soybeans, according to Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodities. “The basis remains strong and when the basis is strong, as far as I am concerned, that means the futures should be strong,” he said. Although CBOT bids have […] Read more

Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Humaita, Amazonas State, Brazil on Aug. 14, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino)

South America fires could disrupt its farm belt’s rainfall

Santa Cruz | Reuters — Forest fires that swept across Bolivia and Brazil this year could disrupt rainfall distribution across South America’s grains-and-beef producing regions in unpredictable ways for years to come, a scientist and meteorologist said. Recent rains in both countries have helped put out the wildfires, which were likely started by farmers and […] Read more

(Rahr.com)

Ample world malt barley supply to limit export prices

MarketsFarm — Canadian malt barley growers may be dealing with adverse harvest conditions that could lead to quality downgrades in some areas — while world supplies of the key beer ingredient remain more than sufficient to meet global demand. “There’s no real indication at this time that we’ll see a significant up move (in price),” […] Read more


CBOT December 2019 corn, with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Crop condition rating lifts corn

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rebounded on Tuesday from four-month lows struck in the previous session after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the U.S. crop’s condition unexpectedly declined over the past week. Soybeans followed corn higher despite steady crop condition ratings, as worries about lower yields in the late-developing crop underpinned prices. […] Read more

CBOT July 2019 corn (candlesticks), with July 2019 soybeans (green line). (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Bear market aches for bull news

MarketsFarm –– The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) is currently a bear-market, according to broker Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodity Brokers. “It’s like the markets are saying ‘Show me something, we’ll take anything,’ but the bears are winning,” he said, noting there has been almost no news to drive the market in a bullish manner. […] Read more