Insights and Stories on USDA

U.S. grains: Futures weaken as Iraq strike rattles markets

Jan. 3, 2020 at 8:05 pm CST

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures crumbled on Friday as traders booked profits after being spooked by a U.S. air strike in Iraq that escalated geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The strike that killed Iran’s most prominent military commander put markets on edge and opened the […]

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy hit 2018 highs

Jan. 2, 2020 at 6:55 pm CST

By Tom Polansek

ICE weekly outlook: Canola could break out of range

Jan. 2, 2020 at 4:15 pm CST

By Glen Hallick - MarketsFarm

Exterior of the Chicago Board of Trade building.

CBOT weekly outlook: Trade optimistic ahead of Phase One signing

Jan. 2, 2020 at 1:00 pm CST

By Marlo Glass – MarketsFarm

Pulse weekly outlook: Edible bean yields lower across North America

Dec. 31, 2019 at 5:39 pm CST

By Marlo Glass – MarketsFarm

Palm oil 101: Sought-after crop holds sway over oilseed trade

Dec. 31, 2019 at 2:25 am CST

MarketsFarm — Palm oil may be grown halfway around the world in conditions much different than on the Canadian Prairies, but the outsized influence of the crop on world oilseed markets makes it an important factor to watch when considering canola prices. Indonesia and Malaysia are the world’s largest producers […]

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

CBOT weekly outlook: Trade bullish into New Year

Dec. 27, 2019 at 3:53 pm CST

MarketsFarm — Agriculture commodities on the Chicago Board of Trade were mixed on Friday, the last day of the January contract and one of the last trading days of 2019. Traders were “shoring up positions ahead of the weekend,” with profit-taking a feature, said Terry Reilly of Futures International in […]

By Marlo Glass – MarketsFarm

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy touch highest prices since summer 2018

Dec. 27, 2019 at 3:32 pm CST

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat and soybean futures on Friday touched their highest prices since summer 2018 on expectations for increased Chinese buying as a result of an initial trade deal. Soybeans closed lower in a retreat from the gains. The markets continued to focus on prospects for more […]

By Tom Polansek

U.S. livestock: Cattle placements top estimates

Dec. 20, 2019 at 6:43 pm CST

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle producers placed more animals than expected into feedlots last month, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed on Friday, raising expectations for big supplies next summer. The increase in placements will likely pressure futures prices on Monday, brokers said. Meat producers and buyers are keeping […]

By Tom Polansek

Fictional nation Wakanda removed from USDA trade list

Dec. 20, 2019 at 1:03 am CST

Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it removed the fictional country of Wakanda from an online list of nations that have free trade agreements with the United States on Thursday. The Kingdom of Wakanda is the home of Black Panther, the Marvel superhero, and is portrayed in […]

By Reuters