Key Takeaways:
A student group from the University of Chicago is protesting to bring back onion futures trading.
Trading in onion futures was banned in 1958 following a spectacular bout of market manipulation that resulted in a corner of the physical market.
The ban on onion futures led to adverse impacts for onion farmers and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and sparked serious academic work highlighting the role of futures and speculation in stabilizing prices.
Congress’ ban on onion futures, now 68 years old, is increasingly nonsensical with the rise of online betting platforms and markets such as Kalshi that allow users to “hedge” their exposure to all manner of absurdities.
The Details: President Eisenhower is...
Key Takeaways: President Trump announced $8 billion in additional agricultural assistance through the Harvest Fuel Relief Program, as USDA projects farm fuel and oil expenses will increase 28.8 percent in 2026. The package follows $12 billion in earlier relief, while government farm payments w...
Beef packer margins deteriorated to $141/head last week, down $55 from the prior week as fed cattle prices strengthened while the Choice cutout remained nearly unchanged. The cutout held near $373/cwt while fed cattle prices climbed $4/cwt to $224/cwt, narrowing processor profits. Despite the d...
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...
