CBOT January 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybean futures climb on export optimism

'No matter who's president, China still needs to feed their hog herd'

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures climbed on Tuesday on export optimism and a slower-than-expected U.S. harvest pace, traders said. Wheat firmed as traders monitored dryness in U.S. and Russian growing belts, while corn traded higher on continued hopes of China buying. The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) settled […] Read more



CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures jump on tightening supplies

Lower wholesale pork values drag on hogs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Thursday on expectations that tight cattle supplies and rising demand for beef will buoy cash cattle markets, analysts said. Cash cattle traded lightly in the southern Plains this week at $106/cwt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported, even with last week (all figures US$). […] Read more



CBOT January 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Crop prices slide as pandemic concerns rattle markets

Traders await U.S. export sales data Thursday

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures fell on Wednesday as part of a broad sell-off in markets fueled by concerns about the economic impact of a global surge in COVID-19 cases, traders said. Losses in agricultural futures pulled corn prices back from a 14-month high reached on Tuesday and soybean prices down […] Read more

CME December 2020 lean hogs, with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs fall on declining wholesale pork prices

Steady beef demand lifts cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell on Wednesday on weaker wholesale pork prices, while cattle futures advanced on steady beef demand, traders said. The U.S. pork cutout, an indication of wholesale pork prices, fell by $4.31, to $84.52/cwt, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (all figures US$). Prices eased for pork […] Read more


CBOT December 2020 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn futures fall after hitting 14-month high

Rains expected to benefit wheat crops; traders watch China to buy more U.S. corn, soy

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn futures ended lower on Tuesday after reaching their highest prices in more than a year on strong U.S. export demand. Soybean futures backpedaled after hitting their highest price since July 2016 on Monday. Wheat also slumped. Profit-taking weighed on corn after prices initially rose on a […] Read more

CBOT November 2020 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: After October rally, November ‘is for bears’

MarketsFarm — Commodities on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) have seen a counter-season rally, with a correction expected in the near future. “Markets are definitely overbought,” said Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodity Brokers in Barrington, Ill. “It’s harvest and we’re still rallying.” World weather conditions are part of the driving force behind the rally, […] Read more


CBOT November 2020 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans hit four-year peak on Chinese demand

U.S. winter wheat crop rating misses estimates

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures set their highest price in more than four years on Monday, rising for a sixth consecutive session on strong Chinese demand. Corn futures retreated from a 14-month peak hit on Friday, while wheat futures tumbled as global crop weather improved. Traders are keeping a close eye on China’s […] Read more

The director of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association doesn’t see the trade relationship between Canada and China improving until some of Canada’s requests are met, including the release of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

Comment: Hold steady with China

In mid-September, our foreign affairs minister announced that Canada was dropping trade talks with China. “I don’t see the conditions being present now for these discussions to continue at this time,” François-Philippe Champagne told Nathan Vanderklippe of the Globe and Mail. “The China of 2020 is not the China of 2016.” This was hardly surprising […] Read more