Chicago/Los Angeles | Reuters — U.S. food companies kept slaughter plants shut on Monday in southeastern states swamped by Hurricane Florence as flash floods collapsed the walls of at least two hog manure pits, made roads undriveable and delayed rail shipments. Catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Florence, which has dumped up to 36 inches of rain […] Read more

Florence shuts down U.S. slaughterhouses

U.S. farmers rush to clear crops but animals stay in Florence’s path
Chicago | Reuters — As powerful Hurricane Florence advanced toward the southeastern U.S., farmers in North Carolina rushed to harvest corn and tobacco and stock up on pig rations, while the danger of sustained rain and deadly flooding threatened a state where millions of farm animals are housed. “The governor said that North Carolina is […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat tops one-week high on Russia export concerns
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures jumped to their highest prices in more than a week on Friday on concerns that top-exporter Russia may curb grain exports, traders said. Russia will consider restricting 2018-19 shipments once they reach 30 million tonnes, following a request from meat-producing regions, according to traders who met with the […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy climbs as U.S., China plan to restart trade talks
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed to one-week highs on Thursday as plans for Beijing and Washington to hold fresh trade talks raised hopes for U.S. soy sales to China after being stalled by a tariff dispute. The rally in soybeans also helped wheat and corn futures rise, traders said, after China’s Ministry […] Read more

U.S. grains: Prices recover from recent losses
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures rose on Tuesday in a turnaround from recent sharp losses, while soymeal futures neared a two-week high following a decision by Argentina to suspend cuts to export taxes for the livestock feed, traders said. Prices were recovering after tumbling on Friday when the U.S. Department of […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy up from three-week low as record harvest looms
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures turned higher on Monday after touching their lowest levels in over three weeks on expectations that domestic inventories will pile up due to a record harvest and the ongoing trade dispute with Beijing. Prices recovered from a 4.7 per cent selloff on Friday that was ignited by a […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans fall as U.S.-China trade war fears intensify
Chicago | Reuters – U.S. soybean futures fell on Wednesday as worries that U.S. President Donald Trump could propose additional tariffs on Chinese goods knocked prices down from a six-week high touched a session earlier. Wheat futures reached a one-year high on worries about drought reducing harvests in nations that are major exporters. The losses […] Read more

ADM earnings double, helped by U.S.-China trade row
Chicago | Reuters – Archer Daniels Midland Co’s net profits doubled in the second quarter and beat Wall Street estimates, after a drought in Argentina and the U.S.-China trade spat boosted the U.S. grain merchant’s trading and oilseed processing businesses. Shares were up 1 percent at $47.86 after touching a three-year high on the New […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy jumps as U.S. readies aid for farmers
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures climbed to two-week highs on Tuesday as the Trump administration said it would provide up to US$12 billion in aid to shield U.S. farmers from economic pain stemming from trade disputes. The program will include direct payments for farmers, and those who grow soybeans are expected to be […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat retreats after nearing six-week peak
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures pulled back on Monday after approaching a six-week high on concerns about dry weather eating into harvests in some of the world’s main exporting countries. Corn futures advanced for the sixth consecutive session to reach their highest prices in three weeks, while soybeans neared a two-week high before […] Read more