Geneva | Reuters — A food security crisis stoked by the Ukraine war is set to push more people to flee their homes in poorer countries, driving record levels of global displacement even higher, the head of the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said. A report by the U.N. body showed on Thursday that some 89.3 […] Read more

Food crisis will drive record displacement levels higher, UN refugee chief says

Feed weekly outlook: Rains boost Prairie grain prospects
MarketsFarm — Heavy rains in Alberta and western Saskatchewan over the past week should give grain crops a good start to the growing season — and put some pressure on the feed grain market, which remains at historically high prices after last year’s drought. The rain “will kick the production can a fairly good ways […] Read more

Biden signs ocean shipping bill in bid to reduce backlogs
Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday signed legislation to improve oversight of ocean shipping, which lawmakers say will help curb inflation and ease export backlogs. The bipartisan bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a 369-42 vote earlier this week. Biden said he had “promised to crack down on ocean […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle mixed on uncertain consumer demand
Export strength supports lean hogs
Indianapolis | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were mixed on Thursday, with nearby contracts firming, while the most-active cattle futures eased pressured by inflationary concerns, though markets remain underpinned by tight cattle supplies across much of the U.S. Plains, analysts said. “The weakness comes from the uncertainty of the economy – how […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat jumps on weaker U.S. dollar
Midwest heat lifts corn, soy
Indianapolis | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat climbed on Thursday, supported by a weaker dollar and continued uncertainty as Ukraine attempts to move grain exports through the Black Sea. Corn and soybeans firmed as hot, dry weather across the U.S. Midwest threatened to stress recently-planted crops. The most-active wheat contract of the Chicago […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle climb as cash markets surge
Firm cash prices also supportive in hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures jumped two per cent on Wednesday, lifted by rising prices for market-ready cattle in the cash market, traders said. Cash cattle traded in Nebraska at around $145 per hundredweight, traders said, up $2-$4 from last week and significantly higher than nearby futures prices (all figures […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Other factors trump seasonal pressure on canola
MarketsFarm — Despite the losses canola and other crops have incurred during the week of June 13, prices have remained rather high, according to a trader. “Even though we got some big crops brewing in North America, the prices are not falling apart. There are just enough things in there to keep these markets a […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: U.S. interest rate decision could shake futures
Heat in forecast keeping U.S. corn supported
MarketsFarm — Commodity prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) were certainly affected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) monthly supply/demand estimates released last Friday — but may be shaken again after the U.S. Federal Reserve decided to raise its key interest rate by 0.75 of a point. Ryan Ettner, a commodity broker […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat eases on harvest pressure
Nearby corn firms, July soybeans also lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures ended lower on Wednesday, led by K.C. hard red winter wheat, as the harvest progressed and forecasts signalled continued dry weather for combines rolling in the southern Plains, traders said. Corn futures closed mixed, with strong domestic cash markets supporting nearby July futures on the Chicago Board of […] Read more

Heat, humidity kill at least 2,000 Kansas cattle, state says
Chicago | Reuters — Extreme heat and humidity killed thousands of cattle in Kansas in recent days, the state said, and sizzling temperatures continue to threaten livestock. The deaths add pain to the U.S. cattle industry as producers have reduced herds due to drought and grappled with feed costs that climbed as Russia’s invasion of […] Read more