Beef is on display at a Walmart in Beijing on Sept. 23, 2019. (File photo: Reuters/Tingshu Wang)

Beef cattle producers ‘encouraged’ by new CPTPP applicants

U.K., China, Taiwan seek memberships; no additional dairy, feather access on table

With their exports on an upswing, the organization for Canada’s beef cattle producers says it’s “encouraged to see other countries’ interest” in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association on Oct. 18 noted the official applications to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) from the United Kingdom, China and […] Read more

File photo of wheat being loaded onto a bulk vessel at port in Russia. (YGrek/iStock/Getty Images)

‘Containergeddon’ drives sugar, rice shippers back to bulk vessels

New York | Reuters — Food traders are switching from containers back to dry bulk vessels to transport refined sugar and rice, hoping to avoid shipping delays caused by container shortages and port congestion the industry is calling “containergeddon,” according to traders. Container-based transportation has been hit by sky-high costs and delays amid booming shipping […] Read more


A cornfield in Mexico’s Chihuahua state. (Undefined undefined/iStock/Getty Images)

Mexico won’t limit GMO corn imports from U.S., ag minister says

Ankeny, Iowa | Reuters — Mexico’s agriculture minister said the country would not limit imports of genetically modified (GMO) corn from the United States during a meeting with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Iowa on Wednesday. Mexico published an executive order late last year that sought to ban in three years the use of […] Read more

CBOT December 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, brown and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat firms on global supply concerns

Fertilizer risks underpin corn; soybeans weighed by harvest, firmer crush lends support

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat rose on Friday, supported by global supply concerns and an easing dollar. Corn followed wheat higher, but gains were dragged down by pressure from a lower soybean market as U.S. farmers reap better-than-expected harvests of the oilseed. The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) ended […] Read more


CME December 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20- and 100-day moving averages (pink and black lines) and CME Lean Hog Index (dark red dotted line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs fall on sluggish export sales

Weaker exports drag on cattle also

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell for a third session on Thursday, pressured by weak export activity, traders said. CME December lean hog futures settled down 2.825 cents at 73.2 cents/lb., its biggest drop since Sept. 10 (all figures US$). CME February hogs ended down 2.55 cents at 76.675 cents/lb. […] Read more

CBOT November 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, dark green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy down on South American weather, technical pressure

Firm U.S. dollar weighs on wheat; rising crop input costs supportive for corn

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures fell on Thursday after five straight sessions of gains, pressured by technical resistance and beneficial forecasts for rain in top export competitor Brazil. Wheat eased from a two-week high hit earlier on Thursday as weaker crude oil prices and a firmer U.S. dollar offset tightening global supplies. Corn […] Read more


CBOT November 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy bounce on technical buying, potential export demand

CBOT wheat turns higher on Paris rally

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn and soybean futures prices rose on Friday, supported by technical buying and renewed hopes of export demand, while wheat prices were boosted by a rally in the European market, traders said. Prices of corn and soybeans have recovered since falling sharply following higher-than-expected supply forecasts from the U.S. Department […] Read more

CME January 2022 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures mixed

Hogs rise on short-covering

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures fell on Friday, pressured by rising corn prices, while live cattle futures inched up as traders anticipated seeing the cash trade improve, traders said. Meanwhile, lean hog futures rose on short-covering ahead of the weekend. The cattle market has been battered by boxed beef prices […] Read more


CBOT December 2021 corn (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy futures fall on big grain stocks, export pace

CBOT wheat falls on profit-taking

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures dipped to a four-week low on Wednesday as the grain markets continued to feel pressure from higher than expected forecasts of U.S. supplies, traders said. Soybean futures fell further, a day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projected U.S. soybean and corn ending stocks were above the […] Read more

CME December 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs near three-week low amid ample supply

Chicago cattle futures also lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell to their lowest prices in about three weeks on Wednesday amid pressure from plentiful supplies, analysts said. Live cattle and feeder cattle futures also finished lower at CME. Hog supplies tend to increase in the autumn, pushing more pork on the market and weighing […] Read more