File photo of the facade of the U.S. Department of Agriculture building in Washington, D.C. (Camrocker/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: Bullish USDA report lifts grain markets

MarketsFarm — The bulls were off and running Thursday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its monthly supply/demand estimates, which showed underwhelming grain production and ending stock figures for the 2022-23 marketing year. U.S. corn production was estimated at 13.73 billion bushels, 192 million below the lower end of trade expectations despite a […] Read more

Some corn hybrids were among the first genetically modified crops to reach the market.

Some GM crops could hit market without review

Traits that could have been achieved through traditional breeding might not require approval

Reuters – The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a rule that will simplify or waive agency reviews of certain biotech farm products, including plants and seeds that have been genetically modified or engineered. As a result, some products could be sold to farmers without a USDA review — a move that comes despite concerns […] Read more

If gasoline consumption falls by 15 to 20 per cent over the next two months it could reduce 2019-20 corn consumption by 120 to 170 million bushels, according to Todd Hubbs, assistant professor of agricultural commodity markets at the University of Illinois.

Biofuels expect hard hit with reduced travel

Gasoline consumption decline could mean lower corn prices

Glacier FarmMedia – COVID-19 is expected to bring trouble to the biofuel sector and that is already depressing corn and other grain prices. “Biofuel producers are under desperate strain,” Emily Skor, chief executive officer of Growth Energy said in an email. “This is unlike anything we’ve seen before.” Why it matters: Ethanol has put a […] Read more


Pro Farmer projects smaller U.S. corn, soy crops after excessive rains

However, if predicted yields are realized the crop will be one of the largest on record

Rochester, Minn. | Reuters – Advisory service Pro Farmer, a division of Farm Journal Media, forecast Aug. 23 that the 2019 U.S. corn harvest would drop 7.4 per cent from last year and the soybean crop would plunge 23 per cent after excessive rains stalled planting this spring. Why it matters: If Pro Farmer’s projections […] Read more

Nutrien expects U.S. farmers to plant as many as 95 million acres of corn in 2020.  Photo: File/Greg Berg

Nutrien sees big corn comeback in 2020, following U.S. floods

Winnipeg | Reuters – Fertilizer producer and farm supply dealer Nutrien Ltd expects U.S. farmers to plant as many as 95 million acres (38.5 million hectares) of corn next year, the most in seven years, after a frustrating year of floods, its chief executive said. The wet conditions left millions of acres unplanted across the […] Read more