Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures leaped to a five-month high on Tuesday on hopes for increased export sales, while corn and soybeans consolidated amid lingering uncertainty about the size of upcoming harvests in the Midwest. Weakness in the U.S. dollar helped support gains in wheat prices, traders said, because a soft dollar makes […] Read more

U.S. grains: Chicago wheat up on export hopes
Corn hits one-week low, soybeans steady

U.S. livestock: Live cattle consolidate up off one-month low
CME hogs up as trade watches China
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Tuesday rose for a second consecutive session as the market consolidated after touching a one-month low on Monday, brokers said. Weakness in the cash market for U.S. cattle has hung over futures prices recently, but some traders said they hope the markets will not […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures snap losing streak
Large supplies pressure CME hog futures
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures jumped on Monday in a rebound off a run of losses, while lean hog futures closed weaker. Live cattle were due for a rebound after falling last week amid pressure from weakness in the cash market, traders said. Short covering helped lift prices, they said. […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans touch two-year high on dry weather
Wheat up with prices in Russia, Ukraine
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures hit their highest prices in more than two years on Monday before paring gains, as dry weather in parts of the U.S. Midwest is expected to damage the condition of crops, analysts said. Wheat futures set a four-month high, while corn futures retreated after touching their highest price […] Read more
Monday’s storm hit an estimated 37.7 million acres in U.S. Midwest
Chicago | Reuters — A storm packing hurricane-force winds on Monday impacted 37.7 million acres of farmland across the Midwest, including 14 million in Iowa, the Iowa Soybean Association said on Friday, citing estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The toll from the derecho storm has worsened as farmers and grain handlers have spent […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle set five-month high, beef prices rise more
USDA cuts pork production forecast
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures leapt to a five-month high on Wednesday and feeder cattle futures neared a six-month peak as boxed beef prices continued to rise. Meatpackers are paying more for cattle due to the strength of the beef market, traders said. Prices typically rise heading into Labour Day, […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn up after USDA confirms massive U.S. crops
Traders assessing damage from Midwest storm Monday
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures rose on Wednesday as short-covering and position-squaring emerged after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed expectations for massive crops, traders said. USDA, in a monthly report, said U.S. farmers will reap their biggest corn harvest and second-biggest soybean harvest, thanks to favourable weather. […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise with U.S. beef prices
Chicago lean hogs retreat
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures advanced on Tuesday, supported by increasing beef prices, traders said. Beef prices usually rise heading into Labour Day, and there is a feeling the market has bottomed after recent volatility, said Don Roose, president of Iowa-based broker U.S. Commodities. Prices for choice cuts of boxed […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn futures tread water as Midwest’s farmers assess storm damage
Analysts still expect large U.S. harvest
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures ended flat on Tuesday as traders and analysts predicted that farmers will harvest a large crop despite a damaging storm that tore across the U.S. Midwest on Monday. Soybean futures were steady, while wheat futures rose on technical buying. Farmers are assessing the damage to their corn from […] Read more

U.S. warns against planting unsolicited seeds from China
Chicago | Reuters – The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday warned residents against planting unsolicited packages of seeds arriving from China because they could harm the environment. At least eight states, from Washington to Ohio, have also told residents in recent days not to put the seeds in the ground, after they arrived apparently […] Read more