Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures rose for a third consecutive session on Wednesday, hitting their highest in nearly a month on expectations that demand for U.S. supplies will remain strong due to harvest shortfalls in South America, traders said. The crop woes in Argentina and Brazil also lent support to […] Read more

U.S. grains: Export demand boosts soybeans
Corn firm, wheat weak

EU offers farmers aid, more land to grow due to Ukraine war
Brussels | Reuters — The European Union will distribute 500 million euros (C$692 million) to help farmers and allow them to grow crops on fallow land to mitigate food price spikes and potential shortages resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Published on Wednesday, the proposals by the EU’s executive European Commission also include assistance to […] Read more

Stellantis’ battery plans take shape in Italy, Canada
LG and Stellantis set up j.v. for Windsor gigafactory
Milan/Ottawa | Reuters — Stellantis took significant steps in its battery production plans in Europe and North America on Wednesday as carmakers race to meet rising demand for electric vehicles. The maker of Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat and Jeep vehicles said its Automotive Cells Co. (ACC) joint venture with Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies would build a […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Grain markets rangebound
Drought seen persisting for U.S.
MarketsFarm — With very little in terms of major new developments from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, grain prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) for the week ended Tuesday were devoid of the volatility seen in previous weeks. The May corn contract traded at each side of the $7.50 per bushel mark during […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Lentil prices expected to hold
MarketsFarm — Prices for green and red lentils are very likely to remain relatively steady, according to Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture Inc. in Winnipeg. “Inventories are relatively low and there are not a lot of people to go to for green lentils in Canada,” she said. “From a buyer’s point of view, they’re […] Read more

Fuel prices may remain high beyond Russian invasion, expert says
MarketsFarm — The decision by the U.S. to halt the import of Russian petroleum products due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine created sticker shock at the pumps in North America — but an end to that invasion would not necessarily mean an end to high fuel prices. On March 15, the average price of […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures mixed
CBOT cattle futures weak
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures were mixed on Tuesday, with deferred contracts firming on expectations that supplies will remain tight until the summer, traders said. The front-month hog contract eased on follow-through selling after hitting technical resistance and closing well below its peak on Monday. Cattle futures also were weaker, pressured […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy futures rise on strong exports
Corn, wheat futures mixed
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures firmed on Tuesday on signs that export demand for U.S. supplies remained firm even as South American farmers harvest their crops. Corn and wheat futures were mixed, with nearby contracts easing and deferred offerings rising. “It is really a mixed bag out here,” said Mark Gold, managing partner […] Read more

JBS says U.S. domestic and international businesses to remain strong
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian meatpacker JBS, which operates multiple food processing facilities in the U.S. and one of Canada’s largest beef packing plants, said its North American operations will continue to drive performance. Speaking at a conference call to discuss fourth-quarter results, management said JBS will benefit from strong U.S. domestic demand for […] Read more

Klassen: Deferred live cattle futures underpin feeder cattle prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Major feedlot operations in Alberta continue to carry large numbers of market-ready cattle. The backlog of fed cattle appears to be worse than earlier anticipated. Yearlings were featured at auction barns in the main feeding regions of Alberta. Feedlot […] Read more