Chicago | Reuters — The United States aims to double the country’s cover crop plantings to 30 million acres by 2030 under a new Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation program launched on Monday. The agency’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will spend US$38 million to help farmers in 11 states plant crops at a time […] Read more

U.S. aims to double cover crop planting to address climate change
Farmers in 11 states to be eligible for program

CGB, soy grower co-op to build North Dakota crushing plant
Reuters — U.S. grain handler CGB Enterprises and farmer co-operative Minnesota Soybean Processors are building a soy processing plant in North Dakota, the second new crushing facility announced in the state this year. The plant — which will be built near Casselton, about 25 km west of Fargo — is expected to crush 42.5 million […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures climb with pork prices
Hog slaughter seen accelerating; beef export picture drags on cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rebounded on Thursday from four sessions of losses, amid an accelerating slaughter pace and indications that pork prices may be near a bottom following a prolonged slide, traders said. The daily hog slaughter was slower-than-normal earlier this week, which some analysts said may be a […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat hits one-month low on USDA projections
Corn, soybean futures rise
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. wheat futures slumped to a one-month low on Thursday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast larger-than-expected global production and stocks in a monthly report that reinforced a recent spate of bearish news. Corn and soybean futures tracked wheat lower, but promptly rebounded from their lows on speculative and technical […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle post new highs, retreat on profit-taking
Chicago lean hogs close mixed
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose to multi-year highs on Monday but closed lower as profit-taking and technical selling clipped gains, traders said. The spread of a new coronavirus variant sparked demand worries as livestock traders feared renewed restrictions on travel and restaurant occupancy. But strong beef packer margins and […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat drops as U.S. dollar edges higher
Australia forecasts record wheat crop; corn, soy down on good South America weather
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures retreated on Monday on a firmer dollar and as a record harvest outlook from major exporter Australia eased recent concerns about rain-damaged crops. Corn and soybeans followed wheat lower, pressured by technical selling and profit-taking and by good weekend rains in Argentina and parts of Brazil. Chicago Board […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit fresh high
Higher cash values, beef demand support futures
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures rose for a sixth consecutive session on Wednesday, and the front-month contract touched its highest point in four-and-a-half years, on higher cash market prices and strong beef demand. Most contracts posted life-of-contract highs, extending a multi-session rally, amid rising beef imports by China and […] Read more

U.S. grains: Markets retreat on pre-Thanksgiving liquidation
CBOT wheat down off peak; corn, soy also slide
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell from multi-year highs on Wednesday and corn and soybeans eased in a profit-taking and liquidation sell-off ahead of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. A firmer U.S. dollar added pressure, but losses in corn and soy were tempered by signs of improved export demand. Markets will be closed on […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle notch 4-1/2 year high
Lean hogs gain on good demand
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures rose for a fifth consecutive session on Tuesday and the front-month contract reached its highest in 4-1/2-years on a firm cash market and good beef demand. Cattle prices have been trending higher amid rising imports by China and improved domestic demand as more consumers […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat rallies to nine-year peaks on supply worries
Corn extends gains, soybeans ease ahead of holiday
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. winter wheat futures rose to nine-year highs on Tuesday as declining weekly U.S. crop condition ratings stoked supply concerns and sparked fresh buying that more than offset earlier profit-taking pressure. Corn extended prior-session gains in light trading, while soybeans eased as traders squared positions ahead of this week’s U.S. Thanksgiving […] Read more