Insights and Stories on USDA

U.S. grains: Corn hits contract lows on sluggish exports, mild weather

Sep. 6, 2019 at 5:36 pm CDT

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell to life-of-contract lows on Friday, pressured by disappointing weekly U.S. export data and forecasts for benign weather in the heart of the Midwest crop belt, analysts said. Soybeans turned down, retreating from early advances, and wheat followed the lower trend. Chicago Board […]

CBOT weekly outlook: Late U.S. crop should slow corn price declines

Sep. 4, 2019 at 9:04 pm CDT

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

ICE weekly outlook: Count on canola remaining rangebound

Sep. 4, 2019 at 8:25 pm CDT

By Glen Hallick - MarketsFarm

U.S. grains: Corn extends slide on crop prospects

Sep. 4, 2019 at 7:56 pm CDT

By Julie Ingwersen

USDA to probe beef market after Tyson plant fire

Aug. 28, 2019 at 8:19 pm CDT

By Tom Polansek

U.S. livestock: CME cattle down as USDA launches beef market probe

Aug. 28, 2019 at 6:57 pm CDT

Chicago | Reuters — U.S live cattle futures fell on Wednesday on large domestic supplies, analysts said, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched an investigation into the wide gap with beef prices. Cattle prices have weakened recently after a fire at a Tyson Foods slaughterhouse in Kansas temporarily eliminated […]

By Tom Polansek

U.S. grains: Soy slumps on improved crop rating

Aug. 27, 2019 at 3:17 pm CDT

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures retreated on Tuesday on improving crop prospects and a lack of progress in trade talks with China, the world’s top importer of the oilseed, traders said. Prices took a hit after soybeans climbed on Monday on short covering and hopes for easing tensions […]

By Tom Polansek

Klassen: Feeder cattle market recovers

Aug. 27, 2019 at 6:53 am CDT

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4-$6 higher on average; some packages in Alberta sold $8 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels. Larger feedlot operations were very aggressive on 750- to 900-pounders. The quality of yearlings is excellent at this time of year. Comments from […]

By Jerry Klassen

China buys U.S. soybeans after declaring ban on U.S. farm goods

Aug. 22, 2019 at 1:28 pm CDT

Chicago | Reuters — China snapped up a small volume of U.S. soybeans last week after pledging to halt purchases of U.S. farm products due to the escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed on Thursday. The world’s largest soybean importer struck deals from […]

By Tom Polansek

Farmer’s threat prompts USDA to pull staff from crop tour

Aug. 21, 2019 at 5:20 pm CDT

Henry County/Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Wednesday it had pulled all staff from an annual crop tour after an employee was threatened, and three sources said the threat came over the phone from an angry farmer. Farmers have complained this month that a government crop […]

By P.J. Huffstutter Tom Polansek