Chicago | Reuters — U.S. farm groups criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to retreat from his predecessor’s opening toward Cuba, saying it could derail huge increases in farm exports that totaled US$221 million last year. A trade delegation from Minnesota, one of the largest U.S. agriculture states, vowed to carry on with its planned visit
U.S. farmers slam Trump’s Cuba clampdown
ADM sees weaker ag services outlook on trading woes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. agricultural trader Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) on Tuesday cautioned that massive global grain stocks are making it difficult to turn a profit trading grain internationally, sending its shares plummeting despite reporting a higher first-quarter profit. The warning highlighted a string of trading woes at ADM, which has shed several key
Bunge profit dives as grain glut hits margins
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. agricultural trader Bunge reported on Wednesday a sharply lower first-quarter profit and cut its full-year earnings forecast as slow crop sales by farmers in South America squeezed margins in its core agribusiness unit, sending shares tumbling. White Plains, N.Y.-based Bunge said net income available to shareholders plunged 82 per cent
U.S. livestock: Cattle rise as cash prices surge
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle surged to contract highs on Thursday and closed up the daily limit in most contacts on stronger-than-expected cash markets and robust demand for beef, traders said. The front-month contract hit a 13-month peak as the market closed higher for the fifteenth time in 16 sessions. April
U.S. grains: Corn, soy gain on planting delays, relief over NAFTA
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn and soybean futures edged higher on Thursday on concerns about weather delays to spring planting and relief that the White House will not immediately withdraw the U.S. from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Solid export sales added support, although both commodities traded lower at times as mild
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs surge on stocks data, strong pork demand
Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures climbed for a second day on Tuesday, with some contracts surging more than 3 percent, on bullish pork stocks data and seasonal buying, traders said. Prices climbed from the opening bell as the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported tighter-than-anticipated U.S. stocks of frozen pork and the tightest
U.S. grains: Corn jumps as rains seen stalling U.S. planting progress
Chicago/Reuters – U.S. corn futures rose for a second straight session on Tuesday on a slower-than-average start to planting in the United States and forecasts for Midwest rains that will stall further progress. Soybean prices retreated after hitting a three-week high in the previous day as government data showed a faster-than-expected pace of new crop
U.S. livestock: Live cattle drop from one-year peak, hogs rise
Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle fell on Monday in a profit-taking setback after notching one-year highs for four straight days last week, traders said. Larger-than-expected cattle placements in a monthly government report issued after the market closed on Friday added pressure to start the week, with deferred contracts posting the steepest declines. “The
U.S. grains: Soybeans rise on dollar weakness, short-covering
Chicago/Reuters – Chicago soybean futures rose for a second session on Monday, touching a three-week high on short-covering, and as a weaker U.S. dollar raised hopes for fresh export sales. Corn futures edged higher on support from fund short-covering and worries over a slow start to spring planting, while wheat declined on abundant stocks. The
Cargill’s Q3 profit up on ingredient, protein demand
Chicago | Reuters — Global commodities trader Cargill reported a higher quarterly profit on Wednesday as strong earnings from its food ingredients and protein units more than offset lagging results from South American grain trading and processing. The privately held company has been streamlining its operations to focus on higher-margin businesses such as food ingredients