(Dave Bedard photo)

Trump administration eyes more aid to farmers if necessary

Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration is ready to provide more federal aid to farmers if required, a White House adviser said on Monday, after rolling out up to US$12 billion since last year to offset agricultural losses from the trade dispute with China. “We have allocated $12 billion, some such, to farm assistance. […] Read more



CBOT July 2019 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn firms as rains stall planting

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures firmed on Monday, hitting the highest point in a week as wet weather across much of the U.S. Midwest and forecasts for continued rains this week threatened to prolong spring planting delays. Soybeans were lower on sluggish U.S. exports, abundant global supplies and worries that delayed corn seeding […] Read more



(ADM.com)

ADM’s move to spin off ethanol assets speaks to industry’s woes

New York/Chicago | Reuters — Biofuels pioneer Archer Daniels Midland took another step toward abandoning its pure-play ethanol assets on Friday, the latest sign of the industry’s struggles with U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade wars, thin margins, and overproduction. U.S. law requires ethanol to be blended into gasoline but domestic demand for the biofuel added […] Read more



File photo of a soybean plantation in Brazil. (Mailson Pignata/iStock/Getty Images)

Brazil urges China to improve GMO approvals

Brasilia | Reuters –– Brazil Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said on Thursday that the country must work with China to reduce non-tariff barriers to agriculture trade, including improving the process for genetically modified goods. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of soybeans, the vast majority of which are genetically modified organisms (GMO). Many newer GMOs, […] Read more

CME June 2019 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs limit down on disappointing export sales

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures plunged on Thursday, with the five most actively traded contracts settling down the daily three-cent-per-pound limit after weekly U.S. export data showed no new pork sales to China, traders said. Live cattle and feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange also declined, pressured by long liquidation […] Read more


A Bunge port facility in Vietnam. (Bunge.com)

Bunge names acting chief as new CEO

Reuters — Global grains trader Bunge on Thursday named Gregory Heckman as its chief executive officer, three months after he took the helm in an interim capacity. Heckman, a founding partner of private investment firm Flatwater Partners and the former chief executive of grains trader Gavilon Group, was appointed acting CEO in January after long-serving […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Joint conference brings canola producers up to speed

MarketsFarm — The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) and the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) have given farmers an update on the current situation between Canada and China. The 38-minute joint webinar/teleconference last Thursday (April 18) featured CCC president Jim Everson and CCGA executive director Rick White. Everson made it clear China is still honouring […] Read more