An ammonia and nitrogen fertilizer plant in Russia. (Saoirse_2010/iStock/Getty Images)

Russia, U.S. bicker at UN over donating fertilizer to Syria

U.S. calls for Russia to distribute via UN

United Nations | Reuters — Russia and the United States bickered on Tuesday over whether Russian fertilizer could be donated to Syria as Moscow heightens complaints about obstacles to its fertilizer shipments before the renewal of a deal allowing Ukraine Black Sea grain exports. Some 260,000 tonnes of Russian fertilizer has been stuck in several […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Wide array of factors affecting grain prices

Corn, soy see speculative profit-taking

MarketsFarm — Recent rains in parts of South America, as well as a correction in the markets, have paused rallies in corn and soybeans on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), according to one trader. Jack Scoville, vice-president of The Price Futures Group in Chicago, said that while central and southern Argentina are still mired […] Read more


CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-day moving average, MGEX March 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow high/low/close) and K.C. March 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange H/L/C). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn, soy down on stronger U.S. dollar, interest rate fears

Uncertainty over Black Sea deal underpins corn, wheat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell more than two per cent on Wednesday and corn and soybeans followed the trend lower, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar and fears of more interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, analysts said. Fundamental news for grains and oilseeds was thin, leaving markets stuck within recent […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Values pull back from upper ranges

Early U.S. estimate of planting intentions due out next week

MarketsFarm — Despite some bullish influences, commodity prices at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) were stepping back in mid-February. That movement wasn’t a surprise to Scott Capinegro of Barrington Commodity Brokers in Barrington, Ill. Prices for corn, soybeans and wheat had been at the upper end of their ranges, he said. “We are still […] Read more


Cargo ship Despina V, carrying Ukrainian grain, is seen in the Black Sea off Kilyos near Istanbul, Turkey on Nov. 2, 2022.  (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Russia says sanctions a barrier to Black Sea grain deal renewal

Reuters — Russia said Monday it would be “inappropriate” to extend the Black Sea grain deal unless sanctions affecting its agricultural exports are lifted and other issues are resolved. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed by Russia and Ukraine last July, created a safe corridor to allow grain to be exported from Ukrainian ports blockaded […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 soybean meal with 20- and 100-day moving averages (yellow and green lines, right column) and CBOT March 2023 soybeans (blue line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soymeal touches highest since 2014

Spec buying, Argentina weather lifts meal futures; CBOT March corn, wheat, soybeans also up

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soymeal futures hit their highest in almost nine years on Monday on speculative buying and uncertainty about crop prospects in Argentina, despite recent rains, analysts said. Surging soymeal values lifted soybean futures, while corn and wheat rose on worries about the future of Ukraine’s safe shipping channel for grain exports. […] Read more


CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with Bollinger bands (20,2), MGEX March 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. March 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat strong on concerns about Ukraine, Russian exports

Chicago corn, soy futures rise

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rallied on Friday, supported by concerns the grain deal allowing for Russian and Ukraine exports from Black Sea ports could splinter amid escalations in the nearly year-long war between the two countries, traders said. Corn and soybean futures also were strong, with corn following the gains in wheat […] Read more

ICE March 2023 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Choppy trading for canola, other oilseeds

Signals not pointing to course change for now

MarketsFarm — Expect canola and other oilseed markets to remain choppy for the time being, according to trader Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg. “All of the markets are very choppy and erratic. They’re very nervous markets,” Ball emphasized, noting war in Ukraine and drought in Argentina are having some of the biggest impacts […] Read more


Close-up of a McDonald’s double Quarter Pounder with bacon. (Corporate.mcdonalds.com)

McDonald’s reported set to exit Kazakhstan on Russia war spillover

Reuters — McDonald’s Corp. is set to abandon Kazakhstan as disruptions triggered by the Ukraine crisis have left the nation without a substitute for Russian meat supplies, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The fast-food giant, which exited Russia in May, banned its local franchisee from procuring meat patties from Russian […] Read more

File photo of barley being loaded for export at the Black Sea port of Mykolaiv, Ukraine on July 9, 2013. (Photo: Reuters/Vincent Mundy)

Ship insurers to cancel war cover for Russia, Ukraine from Jan. 1

London | Reuters — Ship insurers said they are cancelling war risk cover across Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, following an exit from the region by reinsurers in the face of steep losses. Reinsurers, who insure the insurers, typically renew their 12-month contracts with insurance clients on Jan. 1, giving them the first opportunity to scale […] Read more