
Tag Archives drought

Brazil’s soybean harvest kicks off with low yields in Mato Grosso
Crops suffered from lack of humidity; now rains are hampering harvest in some areas
Brazilian soybean farmers have begun to reap their 2023/24 soybean crop, covering some 0.6 per cent of the national planted area as of last Thursday, agribusiness consultancy AgRural said on Monday.

Brazilian farmers slow fertilizer buys as drought dampens corn-planting plans
Fertilizer companies are already dealing with lower profits as prices sag
Brazil's drought is causing farmers there to delay fertilizer purchases for their upcoming corn-planting season, denting sales for global fertilizer suppliers in the world's top corn-exporting country, executives told Reuters.

AgriRecovery feed, freight, breeding herd aid set for Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C.
Feds, provinces announce combined $365 million in aid programs
The federal and Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia governments are jointly putting up $365 million to support ranchers and farmers up against this summer’s drought and wildfire damage. The feds on Friday announced their 60 per cent, or $219 million, share of AgriRecovery program funding for the three westernmost provinces. “I’ve had the opportunity to […] Read more

Low water on Mississippi to persist despite improved drought outlook
Risk of getting stuck mean less grain per barge
Chicago | Reuters — Low water levels on the lower Mississippi River are likely to persist through at least January despite expected above-normal precipitation across the southern U.S. this winter, forecasters with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said on Thursday. The severe to exceptional drought choking the lower Mississippi River valley is expected to […] Read more

El Nino worries Brazil soy farmers as planting progresses, grain lobby says
Dry weather has pushed back planting
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Soybean farmers in top growing state Mato Grosso worry that scarce rains and high temperatures will lead to replanting of some areas while lowering yields in others, local grain farmer lobby Aprosoja-MT said Thursday. The unusual heat and dryness has been linked to the El Nino weather pattern, which is […] Read more

FCC to offer beef heifer replacement loans
Loan program for those wanting to build, maintain herds
Cattle producers wanting to expand or maintain herds — in a time of nationwide herd contraction — are the expected beneficiaries for a new loan program from Farm Credit Canada. FCC on Tuesday announced what it calls the Replacement Heifer Program, consisting of a loan with a maximum loan life of seven years and a […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn choppy, wheat hits new contract low
Market eyes USDA's monthly supply-demand report for price direction
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures were choppy and wheat futures slid to the lowest level since May on Monday as traders scrambled to adjust their positions ahead of a key government crop report. Corn futures firmed late in the session on short-covering, and as market players debated how big the cuts to the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle, deferred live cattle set highs on tight supply
Hog futures down on lower export sales
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feeder cattle futures and deferred live cattle futures climbed to new peaks on Friday, as limited U.S. supplies continued to propel prices. Inventories of U.S. cattle dwindled to their lowest levels in decades after producers reduced their herds over the last year because drought reduced the availability of pastures for […] Read more

Australian crop estimates adjusted slightly lower
Crop seen down 34 per cent from last year
MarketsFarm — Total 2023-24 winter crop production in Australia, at an estimated 45.2 million tonnes, is expected to be 34 per cent off the record highs hit last year but slightly above the June forecast as upward revisions to canola and barley counter a downward revision to the wheat number, according to the latest crop […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat up off three-month low as Australian crop declines
U.S. corn, soy crop ratings fall more than expected
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures edged higher on Tuesday, after hitting a three-month low, amid short covering and concerns about dry weather threatening production in export hubs including Australia. Corn futures also rose, while the soybean market eased as traders awaited the start of U.S. harvesting. After the markets closed, […] Read more