A photo taken Dec. 4 illustrates drought-affected crops in the Argentine province of Corrientes. The region is in the grip of the most intense drought in nearly 20 years.

Dry weather hits Argentine crops, soy markets in rationing mode

Weather woes and accelerating purchases by big buyers like China are boosting the market

Grains powerhouse Argentina is suffering a rainfall deficit of 150 to 300 millimetres with forecasts promising less moisture than necessary to fully refresh parched soy and cornfields, weather experts said recently as worry persisted about yield losses. Months of hot, dry weather have put the country’s two main cash crops at risk. Argentina is the

File photo of a Chinese cornfield. (Baona/iStock/Getty Images)

China’s 2020 corn, wheat imports reach record highs

Beijing | Reuters — China’s grains imports soared to record highs in 2020, customs data showed on Monday, after tight domestic corn supplies pushed prices to multi-year peaks, driving demand for cheaper imports. China, the world’s top agricultural market, bought a record 11.3 million tonnes of imported corn last year, including 2.25 million tonnes in


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Funds’ net long position edges lower in canola

Net long increased in MGEX and K.C. wheats

MarketsFarm — Funds’ large net long position in canola narrowed slightly during the week ended Tuesday, according to the latest commitment of traders (CoT) report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Managed-money fund traders as of Tuesday were holding a net long position in ICE Futures canola of 51,614 contracts, down by about

K.C. March 2021 hard red wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat rises on Russian export tax plan

Corn, soybeans fall on profit-taking

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Friday, supported by Russia’s plan to double its tax on exports of the grain, while corn and soybeans fell as traders took money out of the market following their surge to multi-year highs earlier in the week. Wheat traded both sides of unchanged, ending in positive



CBOT March 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn, wheat rally

Futures up, but below recent peaks

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose 1.7 per cent on Thursday, underpinned by the strong demand highlighted in the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly supply and demand report on Tuesday, traders said. Corn futures also rallied, with the market receiving a boost after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it would not rule on


CME March 2021 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures fall as corn rises

U.S. beef, pork export sales both up on week

Chicago | Reuters — CME feeder cattle futures fell on Thursday, retreating back toward a three-month low on prospects for increased input costs for livestock operators due to surging corn prices. “It is the rising feed costs,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler Marketing + Management. “With the corn being up another 10 cents today,

Concerns over world soybean stocks, driven partly by concern for growing conditions in South America, are lending even more support to canola values.

Canola values’ climb likely to continue

Crush margins are around the widest levels seen in the past year

ICE Futures canola continued its months-long rally during the first week of 2021, hitting fresh contract highs to trade at levels not seen in more than seven years. While a profit-taking correction is always possible, the trend appears intact for the time being. The most active March contract had faced some resistance at the psychological $650-per-tonne mark during


(Kriste Sorokaite/iStock/Getty Images)

Grain aflatoxins lead to U.S. pet food recalls, dog deaths

Pet food maker expands recall after more than 70 dogs die, 80 sickened

Reuters — Midwestern Pet Foods is expanding a recall to include several more products sold under its Sportmix brand and other labels after at least 70 dogs died and 80 others are known to have become ill, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. The food was found to have potentially unsafe levels of