Biodiesel critics and advocates both noted that there was no proposal in the president's budget to extend the biodiesel blenders' credit. This has sparked...

The big rally in corn futures prices during the past two months does stand out and has analysts asking themselves if this marching bull corn market can be...

Although there does not appear to be any disruption in Black Sea grain shipments or in early spring planting in Ukraine so far, the situation remains a maj...

One congressional assertion is that making agriculture a bigger tent will ensure that future farm bills go more smoothly. Farm Bill Cost No Issue The Congr...

Ukraine's recent corn price increases have made the supply to North Africa much less competitive.  It appears that importers of larger vessels will pr...

China has recently issued a series of policies to promote family farms that could also mean that the freedom to transfer and consolidate land will be estab...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The actual WASDE numbers were a bit more positive than the trade estimate average, but that didn't slow the across-the-board selling. General Comments Mark...

The Black Sea wheat market remains firm due to the region's political tension, and there are no offers in Ukraine. Milling Wheat The Black Sea wheat marke...

Overall, USDA is seeking a reduction in discretionary outlays of $2.638 billion from what it is projected to receive in FY 2014 under the continuing resolu...

The trade was looking for a slight increase in the corn export forecast and that's what it got, while there might have been some disappointment that the co...

Corn futures started to falter when Canada's government made comments about forcing its railroads to move more grain and oilseeds. That helped push the oat...

The general view now is that India's 2013 soybean crop was no greater than 9 MMT, and the country is likely to face a severe soymeal shortage in the domest...

The shrinking U.S. demand for fuel obviously exacerbates the blend wall issue. However, the global demand for crude and petroleum fuel, up about 6.5 percen...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The last 15-20 percent of Brazil's soybean harvest is being hurt by too much rain and will result in quality and yield loss. More importantly, the frequent...

A lower sugarcane output and the slow start to its processing because of price issues have been cited as the major reasons for the decline in India's sugar...

Planting on New Policy Transfer payments, technocrat speak for taxpayer money given to beneficiaries, amount to around 5 percent of farm income and can onl...

U.S. aggies would say it is technology that will limit progress by U.S. and EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiators next week...

It is as important to know when a trend is about to run its course as it is to know when one is about to take off.Investors and speculators are forever see...

Regulatory agencies have finally conceded, and USTR will now accept the concept of binding dispute settlement on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues in...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

While there could be some profit taking by traders with long positions going into the weekend, the prospect that USDA could further increase its U.S. corn...

A coalition of 11 livestock, poultry and dairy groups have called for committee hearings on the proposal by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia) to re...

There have not been any interruptions in work at the grain terminals of Sevastopol in regards to sea exports, according to the Ukrainian Agrarian Confedera...

Europe may not be ready to impose trade retaliation on Russia, but some members of the U.S. Congress are suggesting the use of WTO dispute settlement cases...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Overall, the Argentine wheat market is still depressed because of government policies. The only effective way to reactivate exports is to open the full quo...

U.S. farmers continued to reward this week's price rally by selling significant quantities of corn, soybeans and wheat, and this has pressured cash basis b...

A biotech conference in Ethiopia with African and European scientists last week has come out strongly in support of using agricultural biotechnology as a m...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

If trade between Russia and Ukraine is disrupted by the current situation, the oilseed most impacted will be soybeans. Oil World Reduces South American Soy...

The current soybean market is a far cry from what most analysts expected, and we have once again been reminded that it is wise to be wary when there is a n...

The staff at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) continues to watch their long ball knocked foul. Budget Outtakes Some observations on other pa...

Financial markets heaved a big sigh of relief today when Russia pulled its troops away from the Ukrainian border, and stocks roared back to erase yesterday...

The cuts proposed to the crop insurance program were not incorporated into the farm bill, which makes it unlikely that Congress will act on them any time s...

The situation in Ukraine is likely worse than many perceive at this time and with larger global impacts. Even North Korea realizes this is an opportunity f...

Some are suggesting that the market is betting on an EPA reversal by bidding up the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices that have increased from a...

Just the fact that many uncertainties now exist between Russia and Ukraine will likely push more corn and wheat export business elsewhere where there isn't...

The uncertainty regarding the wheat export program from Ukraine and Russia in the upcoming months is a serious incentive for traders and consumers to incre...

China's newly issued regulations regarding feed and feed additive imports appear to be consistent with the government's decision to improve the nation's fo...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The Black Sea problems brought short covering to the wheat markets and outright buying to corn and soybeans. There might also have been some support for wh...

Ukraine has become an important contributor to global food supplies in recent years, which raises the question of what happens if the political situation d...

If prices are high, as they have been the past two years, this program has guaranteed great profits regardless of yields or prices going forward.February w...

Federal spending is still front and center, and it is also an election year. The best bet for this year is that there will not be a congressional budget...

Soybeans, corn and wheat all closed on or near the day's highs. That is a bullish technical picture for the last day of the week and the month. General Com...

GOI has made its intention very clear by announcing that it is committed to the use of biotech and other new technologies for agricultural development and...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

U.S. corn exports deviation from historic patterns has implications for what exports will be in the rest of the marketing year. Analysis of unshipped corn...

The dynamics between fed cattle marketings and placements are analyzed with their implications for next quarters' beef demand and pricing. Feedlot turnover...

After several months of very profitable crush margins, the Chinese soybean crushing industry has seen margins collapse to very unprofitable levels in the l...

A study by Petr Havlik of the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis concludes that the lower nutritional value of grass means that livestock...

The extreme movement of soybean prices first boosted grain prices, but ultimately pulled grains to lower closes as well. However, the grains were not trade...

Concerns have been mounting that Argentina could completely lose market share in wheat this season and may need to reduce prices by at least $20-30/MT in o...

Ukraine has exported 23.9 MMT of grains since the beginning of MY 2013/14. This is a 36.7 percent increase compared with the same period in MY 2012/13. Rus...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Somewhat late to a flawed game, the World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending taxes and regulatory restrictions to halt the course of obesity in mode...

Soybeans closed higher again for the 13th time during February with the May contract hitting another high. Only corn remained locked in its usual narrow tr...

Lower commodity prices in the U.S. will help export market sales, but the catalyst will be the way monetary policy unfolds.In the last two policy meetings...

According to a comment from Iran, Ukraine may not be able to complete their outstanding corn business because of its dwindling supplies and domestic unrest...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

If adding labor to industry groups is a good idea, why not just throw all of the disparate interests onto the same committee and enjoy a literal three-ring...

It is interesting to see that investors and investment money managers have not totally forgotten about commodities.Historically, most conservative investor...

The continued sale for export of so many of last year's soybeans increasingly suggests the 2013 U.S. soybean crop was larger than USDA is estimating. Big S...

The CME March oats closed at an historic high of $5.03 today as U.S. oat supplies are being squeezed. Some of the big cereal makers reportedly have invento...

China's government has issued guidelines calling for maintenance of the traditional diet as an increasing segment of the population is experiencing chronic...

The fight over the image of agriculture, livestock and the food industry has been ongoing for quite some time, but the battlefield is changing. Social medi...

It's difficult to assess the exact volume of Ukraine's remaining corn surplus as farmers logically prefer to keep grain instead of cash because of the coun...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

There has been talk about the impact of this winter and even some special spring and summer forecasts that are highlighting how the current U.S. weather si...

Activists are clogging up U.S. EPA's public comment site on the proposed deregulation of biotech crops that are resistant to 2,4-D. Tail Wagging the Dog U...

There were several comments floating around about U.S. farmers planting more corn acres than a year ago because last year's profits were so big. That won't...

According to leaks from the administration, the president's spending blueprint will adhere to the Bipartisan Budget Act agreed to in December that set spen...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The condition of China's cotton stocks is unknown, but it appears there is some confidence that Beijing will not dump its excess on the world market. Own P...

One of the primary reasons we said the Outlook Conference numbers would be bearish is that USDA has a history of using a best case scenario from a yield st...

India is likely to produce 263.2 MMT of food grains in 2013/14. This is greater than the target of 259 MMT established by the agriculture ministry in Septe...

Wheat futures have staged a significant rally since the February WASDE, which farmers have used to sell more wheat. The trouble across the northern Plains...

A quick rundown on the particulars for meat and livestock in USDA's baseline projections shows per capita meat consumption rising entirely due to chicken.U...

Farming is like any other business that produces and sells goods and services. Its profitability depends on maximizing productivity, efficiency and economi...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The severe unrest in Ukraine has the world grain trade casting a wary eye on Black Sea loadings, interior Ukrainian logistics and possible spring planting...

At the rate canola plantings are expanding in Canada, there may not be many years before the country's canola area surpasses its total wheat area. USDA For...

If crop insurance had to operate on actuarial soundness with premiums fully paid by farmers, its value would quickly decline over time. The belief continue...

With the Obama administration's allies abandoning it on the trade policy agenda, U.S.Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman announced a plan to try and...

Market demand for soybeans has been rather slow this past week with everyone seemingly expecting basis to drop as farmers started selling throughout South...

If rains are disappointing this weekend in Brazil and Ukrainian political unrest continues, corn contracts could temporarily move higher without any assist...

The Russian Grain Union supports the government resolution to allow GM seeds for use in sowing as of 1 June 2014. Russian Grain Markets: 12-18 February 201...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

In the last few years, food retailers in Europe have shifted away from requiring that the pork and poultry meat they market be fed only with non-biotech fe...

Both Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will raise the issue of U.S. non-compliance with the WTO on country of...

Wheat, the soy complex and now corn are all re-emphasizing the lesson to both speculative and commercial traders that excessive reliance upon automated ind...

This year's polar vortex brings a whole new focus on weather and its impact on the overall economy.Every speechwriter in Washington, DC who has put pen to...

According to a recent report, corn consumption in Saudi Arabia will increase by close to 23 percent in the next four years. This will all have to be import...

Monday, 17 February is a U.S. holiday. Please note that our office will be closed and the next Ag Perpsectives will be published 18 February.Monday, 17 Feb...

Although the European Parliament voted against the biotech maize event 1507, the European Commission (EC) can still move forward in allowing planting to oc...

Monday, 17 February is a U.S. holiday. Please note that our office will be closed and the next Ag Perpsectives will be published 18 February.Monday, 17 Feb...

First notice day for delivery against the March soybean and meal contracts is next week. That alone might keep the markets firm until we get into the deliv...

A study has found that the crop losses in India resulting from pest-related infestations total $8 billion, and there is an opportunity for the pesticide in...

There are still more than 50 vessels waiting to load from the west coast of Canada. That totals more than 2 MMT of grain and oilseeds.We have written on se...

USDA's just-released 10-year baseline projections made a bigger splash than normal because of the recently passed farm bill.USDA released its 10-year basel...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

In a first, Chick-fil-A restaurants announced a phaseout of all chicken raised with antibiotics within five years. More Companies Join Trend on Protein Pro...

It is hard to predict large Chinese cancellations of U.S. soybean purchases when the country is buying more than it is canceling. China Testing U.S. Soybea...

Sustainability is the main charge against conventional agriculture, and the larger problem is that the antagonists successfully issue very general but plau...

Overnight trading started out with mixed results amid slack volume, but the soy complex started to rally during the wee hours and carried the grains along...

USDA cannot possibly construct a 10-year baseline that predicts or anticipates certain factors. The only thing we can say with confidence is that  une...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Russian seaports increased the volume of grain shipments in January 2014 to 1.2 MMT, 2.9 times more than the total in January 2013. Russian Grain Markets:...

Markets seldom trade much in February on prospects for the next crop year, but Monday's WASDE definitely perked up attention. In fact, it was almost exciti...

If the presence of MIR 162 corn in Chinese soybean cargoes becomes a big problem, it could weaken exporters' abilities to fend off sales cancellations with...

Improved performance in the Brazilian ports has helped reduce the inverse in soybean contracts that has declined to about half the level it was in December...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Lawyers have appealed to the states' attorney generals in 16 states seeking a class action lawsuit against the food industry similar to the successful one...

The African Agricultural Technology Foundation has received a grant through a USAID-funded program to be used for the commercialization of a Striga weed-re...

The same people who trust science in the pursuit of stem cell research, climate change mitigation and evolution throw it under the bus when it comes to foo...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

There presently appears to be only one event that could cause aggressive price movement during the next three weeks: the threat related to wheat. General C...

The Brazilian government's crop supply agency (Conab) today reduced its forecast for the Brazilian soybean crop to 90.01 MMT. Producers are also very conce...

It would seem the real future growth for U.S. biofuels lies in the export market.New reports indicate that Navigant Research has released a study projectin...

The EU allocated 872,000 MT of wheat export licenses last week, bringing the total to 18.2 MMT since the start of the campaign versus 11.7 MMT a year ago...

Markets were quiet overnight and mostly lower with little news ahead of today's USDA WASDE report that was more positive than expected. General Comments Ma...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Both the White House and the Republican House leadership are now positioning themselves as to what they each will demand from the debt ceiling legislation...

The simple fact is that demand for U.S. soybeans, corn and wheat has been much better than most analytical groups anticipated.USDA released the February WA...

Corn confidently worked higher through this week. The soy complex tried to follow suit, while wheat traded in a rather indecisive manner. The reassuring fa...

In a situation where milk demand is increasing by 10-11 percent and production by 3 percent, India may not be able to fulfill its needs in 2021 without dra...

EU trade negotiators will reportedly offer their U.S. counterparts tariff elimination on 96 percent of goods, and while tariffs will remain on sensitive pr...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Dry conditions hurt HRW production in two of the last three years. It is looking more likely that this will again be the case in 2014. The only question is...

A group called the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, headed by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCG...

Iowa State University has announced that a new strain of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) has been discovered in samples taken from Illinois and...

The  Senate's confirmation of Senator Max Baucus (D–Montana) as the new U.S. Ambassador to China has resulted in a vacancy on the powerful Finance Com...

Each week, the trade expects to see the cancellation of outstanding export sales of soybeans to China. Instead, however, there are even more sales to China...

2014 Agripalooza The market, government and technology development will all three conspire to change things in the agrifood sector in 2014. It will be exci...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The market is being forced to re-evaluate demand by the surprisingly large volume of export sales since the beginning of 2014. This surging demand has also...

Grain and soy futures markets continue to follow a beat of their own. Much of the beat today was provided by another weekly export sales report that genera...

Agricultural products provided approximately 27 percent of all Ukrainian exports for 2013 with grains holding a very significant share of the total agricul...

Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) is dead for now, and the sudden protectionist pivot in Washington has created a sigh of relief by those in Japanese agricul...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

We see today's futures market action as less important for what it did than what it did not do, and suggest that even in a bear market pattern such as we h...

Argentine farmers are simply not offering their crops for export. A primary reason for this lack of selling is the spread between the official and the blac...

The recent Egyptian purchase of Russian wheat is reportedly due to the weakness in the Russian ruble that has made Russian wheat exports more competitive i...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Today's strong across-the-board rally by grain and soy futures is a throwback to the sort of price action seen during the bull market days of 2012/13. Gene...

It is very likely that the livestock issues, crop insurance concerns, COOL and other matters will return in the upcoming appropriations process.The U.S. Se...

Today's final passage of a new U.S. farm law will pose a tricky decision for farmers – do they select the short-term protection of the Agriculture Risk Cov...

There is a lot going on these days on both macro and micro levels that can have direct or indirect influence on grain markets and commodity markets as a wh...

The Argentine government is so desperate for foreign exchange and government revenue that it is now threatening to fine farmers who do not sell their old c...

A hint in the market suggests that Brazil's new crop logistics might not be any better than last year, although there is hope for an earlier start to the s...

The current marketing environment will lead to some significant changes in attitudes.Two years ago, I hired a 28-year old to work with me in my farm market...

At the peak of the Chinese New Year sales period, poultry traders have had to suspend business in some areas due to the bird flu epidemic. China's Hog Pric...

The final numbers for 2013 support EPA's case to reduce the RVOs for 2014 due to the blend wall.EPA released the Required Volume Obligation (RVO) data unde...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The Chinese government continues to impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties against U.S. poultry products, and AmCham China implores Washington to fo...

The recent change of the GASC terms that reduces the maximum allowed moisture content to 13 percent is a serious obstacle for French wheat. Without Egypt,...

There are now in excess of 50 vessels waiting to load at west coast Canadian port facilities, and the problem is getting product to the ports. This is begi...

India's sugar industry is in dire straits and incurring huge losses. However, the government has created a Sugar Development Fund, and there will now be an...

Markets in general have built more walls of worry this week over U.S. corporate earnings, emerging market concerns and slower growth in China. The bearish...

The President's comments about natural gas vehicles raise the question of whether the renewable fuel standard (RFS) will inch toward an alternative fuel st...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

When agreement is weak and a lot must get done, the political and logistical solution is big lumpy omnibus bills laden with lots of sweeteners to placate t...

USDA/FAS reported export sales for last week of about 1.878 MMT of old crop corn and 105,700 MT of corn for 2014/15. The old crop sales exceeded by far wha...

From a livestock perspective, the farm bill is notable for what provisions are not in it. Farm Bill Livestock Provisions From a livestock perspective, the...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) does not want his vulnerable members to face any compromising votes before the November election. This means t...

Today's USDA export sales report showed a pronounced slowdown in net new export sales of soybeans and soybean products. With Brazil now harvesting its new...

Buyers/users are looking at prices that are sometimes half of what they were just 12 months ago. They are, as the saying goes, loading up the wagon, coveri...

Argentina's government is desperately trying to encourage farmers to sell their crops as quickly as possible, but the lack of trust that farmers have for t...

Large-scale fund liquidation during the day session set the stage for old crop soybean contracts to sink 13-16 cents by the close. Adding to the bearish at...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) gave definitive proof today that the trade policy agenda is in trouble. Trade Agenda Trouble U.S. Senate...

Ukraine's Parliament approved the state budget which includes VAT refunds to Ukrainian grain exporters. This will increase the profits of Ukrainian grain p...

While wheat production has declined in the U.S. over the last two-three decades, it has expanded elsewhere in the world. That U.S. wheat should still be th...

Ethanol makers are claiming that they could export a lot more of the fuel if EPA would simply mandate the production. However, this means that ethanol woul...

Last Friday's USDA export sales report only served to re-affirm the torrid pace of U.S. soybean and soymeal exports in the current marketing year. It is be...

Iran and Ukraine have announced that they will be working much closer together on the development of joint efforts in the agriculture sector.   News...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

As expected, the final conference report of the new farm bill was filed last night. It contains several new commodity programs of interest.As expected, the...

The shakeout of developing countries' currencies and world stock markets appears to have subsided at least for now. The U.S. dollar is higher, although it...

Chinese society's public debate on GM food has greatly intensified and evolved from a health issue to one of national security. China's Beef Price Soars be...

The farm bill conference managers are pressing ahead with the final conference report today as they try to get conferees to sign off on it, even though som...

The Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC) program has provided U.S. farmers the same thing as an enormously good put option on up to 85 percent of their proven...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The EU allocated 819,000 MT of wheat export licenses last week, bringing the total to 16.7 MMT versus 10.8 MMT allocated at the same time last year. Millin...

Corn and wheat traded steady to higher most of the session, while soybeans had another day of back and forth trading. General Comments Markets were quiet a...

Those who default to the viewpoint that "big is bad" rarely get a good rebuttal. Now the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association has responded with a little histo...

USDA's sales totals in today's weekly export sales report did nothing to attract buying in the soy complex, although the market did climb back and trade ju...

The ethanol industry is arguing about the impact on corn prices and the farm economy from a reduced RFS. Ethanol on Offensive Before Comment Period Ends In...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Canada has an enormous transportation problem that is likely unprecedented, and it might rival Brazil in terms of shipping delays before all is said and do...

The UN's International Resource Panel is concerned that water, soil and biodiversity will suffer trying to meet rising global food demand and recommends co...

India, Vietnam, and Indonesia are the next three largest growth areas for soymeal usage after China. All three countries have now begun to see consistent s...

In the first seven months of 2013/14 (April–October 2013), foreign direct investment (FDI) in the food processing sector was $2.15 billion, and there are e...

Wheat was today's market leader with gains of 7-9 cents for SRW, HRW and HRS futures. Lowering world wheat prices are attracting demand. General Comments T...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

There are fewer cattle in most exporting countries and continued strong demand in importing countries, especially Asia. Beef Shortage Lower feed prices are...

The influence of enlarged corn production in the U.S., Brazil, Ukraine and other producing countries has created a new bearish psychology for the corn mark...

Seeing a physical blend wall that creates a gap between the amounts of corn-based ethanol the industry can produce and can be absorbed in the gasoline mark...

Even though Brazilian soybeans may be $0.80 or more cheaper than U.S. soybeans, the Chinese are going to be reluctant to switch unless they feel confident...

Crops in Brazil and Paraguay are developing under very good conditions. The Brazilian soybean crop is estimated to be about 90 MMT or more, and the Paragua...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

India may have brought the world the numeric system, but it gives few favors these days when it comes to trade. Museum of Farming Britain is the perfect le...

Russia exported 681,827 MT of corn in December 2013. That is a record monthly volume for Russia at 15.7 percent more than November 2013 and triple the amou...

USAID is providing funds in Ghana for the installation of easy-to-operate corn shelling equipment that can be used by all farmers there. This new equipment...

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is underway in Davos, Switzerland, and several major corporate leaders reportedly aren't bothering to participate. Inconsequ...

Overall, the U.S. government is starting the new year on a trend toward deficit reduction. This is largely as the result of two trends.Looking back on CY 2...

Hot, dry conditions over southern and western Argentina had been one of the key fundamental support pillars for the soy market, and the weekend rains kicke...

The Chinese government announced that it will discontinue stockpiling soybean and cotton this year as a way to support farmer income. Instead, it plans to...

The concern has always been that the mere fact that food products are required to be labeled as containing GM ingredients would be taken by the public as e...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The irony is that when non-GMO becomes commoditized, organic product companies like Amy's and Earth's Best that are pushing for GMO labeling will eventuall...

Some producers will choose to spend less on crop inputs when profits are projected to be slim or none. That is the case as we head in to the 2014 planting...

As India's pulse production has increased, it now wants to lift the ban on exports in 2014. This will help raise the domestic prices to farmers who would o...

Soybeans and soymeal posted a mini-rally at the close that took March futures to the plus side and brought November futures to a 4-cent gain on the day. Ge...

Groups continue to work toward a solution as the pressure of a two-year delay in the farm bill is mounting on dairy interests as the last holdout. As we r...

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services' nutrition guidelines are due for renewal in 2015. Meat and livestock groups will push to...

U.S. new soybean export sales have to drop back substantially at some point soon, or there have to be significant cancellations of sales. Otherwise, the U...

Overnight trading volume for grain and the soy complex continued the recent slowing trend, but daytime volume picked up after USDA's weekly export sales re...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The role played by excessive speculation is a curious one. It seems that it only occurs when prices are rising, never when they are falling.As Gary Blument...

The dairy provision in the new farm bill appears to be getting worked out, but now cotton is rearing its ugly head. New Farm Bill Trouble The dairy provisi...

Today's grain and oilseed prices.   Some other text...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

With the possible exception of old crop soybeans and soymeal, there is presently the absence of the kind of fundamental tensions that encourage trading and...

Argentina's announced export quota of 1.5 MMT on wheat has left wheat market participants very disappointed with this policy development. They had been exp...

Russia has exported 16.384 MMT of grains since the beginning of MY 2013/14. That is a 25.3 percent increase compared to the 13.077 MMT exported during the...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The trade liberalization agenda had the most momentum in years as 2013 was coming to a close, but now 2014 looks to be full of hurdles. Trade Agenda at Ris...

Kenya has set a target to double corn production in the next five years. The government also said that it will be promoting a change in the local diet to r...

Better than expected retail sales results for December sent stock markets higher today following earlier January losses. China reportedly turned down more...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The saga over horse slaughter in the U.S. is a repeating nightmare for both its proponents and opponents. This time around, horse slaughter opponents used...

The plan released yesterday afternoon provides final FY 2014 discretionary funding levels for all 12 annual appropriations bills at a total of $1.012 trill...

Global soybean demand is strong, but not strong enough to handle a 30 MMT increase in combined North and South American soybean production in the same cale...

Although most analysts pay little attention to grain sorghums, there were major changes to 2013 production that necessitated signifcant changes in the 2013...

If not explicitly welcomed by Congress, EPA's proposal was met with quite a sigh of relief as it cleared a contentious issue from the must-do legislative l...

Soybeans are supposed to be weakening as the demand leaves North America and crops in South America continue to look good. The problem is that the demand h...

Assuming the Ukrainian feed grains surplus is 18 MMT this year, 10 MMT remain for the period of January-September, which is a record high for this point in...

With over an acre of land per inhabitant, Hawaii imports 92 percent of its food. By contrast, the Chinese have about one-fifth of an acre of arable land pe...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The market is having trouble accepting the fact that last Friday's USDA corn numbers might have signaled a change in the corn outlook.The market's reaction...

Realizing that limited arable land and scarce water resources could restrict agricultural production, China has vowed to boost the seed industry to ensure...

Each of the House and Senate bills provides its own proposed program for dairy producers' margin insurance. As we reported in a brief update yesterday, th...

Today's USDA corn numbers clearly caught the market by surprise with a decrease in production and a 1 December quarterly stocks number of more than 300 mil...

Creating change through the use of labeling and taxes is not so simple.The International Association for the Study of Obesity suggests that the solution to...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Growing per capita incomes in India have led to changes in household food baskets and a tremendously increased demand for dairy products. The rapidly...

The corn and soybean estimates were not nearly as bearish as predicted by most analysts, while wheat held its own surprise.USDA unloaded the biggest series...

Net new export sales of U.S. soybeans last week totaled only 155,000 MT. However, this year's total is 41.248 MMT, 2.7 percent above USDA's December foreca...

Food manufacturers are asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop a national rule on biotech food labeling. There are ample legal mechan...

Smithfield and its hog production subsidiary, Murphy-Brown, are asking their contract sow-growers to convert their facilities from gestation stalls to grou...

The pervasive feeling is that the sum of tomorrow's USDA reports will be bearish with increased corn and soybean production as well as big quarterly corn s...

We have no doubt that the CME futures markets attract a greater diversity of commercial and speculative traders from around the world than any other agricu...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The House and Senate farm bill conference did not meet today as had been expected. The issues were allegedly regarding food aid and dairy programs. The Ho...

Russia is charging the EU with improper antidumping procedures due to faulty dumping margin calculations, while the country itself was found to have impose...

Today's announcement that China had bought more U.S. soybeans had less influence on price than prudent action. General Comments It is stating the obvious t...

Brazilian farmers have sold about 40 percent of their soybean production, well below the last campaign. There is still a large volume to trade, but there m...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Mykola Kulbida, Director of the Ukrainian Meteorological Center, reported on 30 December that the continuous period of warm weather affecting Ukraine, espe...

Grain and soy markets are treating Friday's 2014 version of USDA January reports as being very important to future price direction. General Comments USDA's...

There are both mandatory and  several politically-motivated high priority items. Obviously, all of these issues have implications for the 2014 mid-ter...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

USDA announced today that U.S. exporters have sold an additional 350,000 MT of soybeans to China for shipment in 2013/14. This should send a signal to the...

You might say that today's sales report provides an exclamation point to the curious anomaly that has developed for the U.S. and world soybean outlook and...

Ten new drought-tolerant varieties of corn are being released in Africa: four types in Uganda, three types in Kenya and another three slated soon in Tanzan...

Most activists solely state the need to remove antibiotics from livestock production in order to solve antibiotic resistance. Addressing the human-based ca...

Humans are fretting the deep cold temperatures savaging the U.S. this winter. However, it may be good for crops. White House Drives Ethanol Policy EPA has...

The weekly export inspections numbers were released and showed that 56.5 million bushels of soybeans were exported during last week's holiday-shortened wee...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

China's domestic protein market surged recently as a result of the tightening DDGS import policy. Some large domestic importers are now worried about the f...

The primary reason for these expectations is that nearly everyone expects that U.S. corn and soybean production estimates will be increased.USDA will relea...

The devil is in the details, which are sparse at this moment. Indeed, there is not even confirmation right now that all the provisions in both the House an...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

This morning's weekly export sales report again showed bullish soybean sales with corn and wheat sales below expectations. General Comments Markets were mi...

A widely-referenced paper on the trials and effects of biotech food crops has been discredited by the journal that published it. There is now no serious sc...

We are currently projecting a reduction in U.S. winter wheat acres. However, we see big differences between hard red winter (HRW) and soft red winter (SRW)...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

We are coming out of long bull run for commodities despite a recession in 2008-09, or maybe, in part, because of that recession.We are coming out of long b...

Farmers were sent checks from the government when corn was $7/bushel but now will not receive a direct payment when corn is down to $4/bushel. Contradictio...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Although China has thus far rejected a relatively small amount of U.S. DDGS because it contains an unapproved Syngenta biotech event, the rejections are ha...

What we are unable to forecast are the inevitable surprises that always appear.As we begin each New Year, it has become our habit to peer into our proverbi...

The food police, as Jayson Lusk at Oklahoma State likes to call them, are hoping that Mexico's newly enacted tax on sugary soft drinks will successfully se...

The market's price action since Christmas has turned technical charts for all three markets seriously negative. General Comments Please note that the weekl...

Livestock feed price ratios forecast for December 2013 already show dramatic changes over the past two years in terms of livestock profitability.Feed Outlo...

Middle Eastern markets, especially Iran, were buyers of Indian soymeal in 2012/13, but it is expected that those exports to the region will drop in 2013/14...

Until the agriculture sector achieves greater public understanding of its objectives, challenges and accomplishments, antagonists will fill the vacuum with...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The two factors driving farm financial health are farm income and borrowing costs. With farm real estate debt having increased substantially since 2008, th...

Perhaps more than anything else, 2013's final session demonstrated how interconnected various commodities can become. General Comments The last trading ses...

The fundamental story line for 2013 is the rather dramatic transition from tight supplies and the need to limit demand at the beginning of the year to the...

Hope obviously abounds in the Indonesian government. Yesterday the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture forecasted that country's soybean production in 2014...

Survey work commissioned by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance found that the vast majority of consumers want more information and transparency appli...

There was rain in Cordoba, Argentina over the weekend that gave us a weak tone in the soy complex. There wasn't any news in the corn market, so the weaknes...

What is most surprising, perhaps, is that the top income earners have fared worse as an overall group than any other since the 2008-09 recession. While Co...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The question for today is: to what extent has the GM revolution in corn and soybeans resulted in yield increases?John Baize had an interesting piece last w...

While the DDGS component of the Chinese feed market is still relatively small, it is an important one for U.S. DDGS as it accounts for 58 percent of all ex...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The weekly U.S. export sales report was released this morning, and corn sales were more than double the anticipated number with soybean and wheat sales als...

Many analysts have discussed India's divided demographic and how it will pave the way for the country's economic growth. While there is a great deal of pot...

Uncertainty remains the key certainty going into 2014.Two seemingly conflicting forecasts for 2014 involve concurrent value accretion for the U.S. dollar a...

Commodity Analytics shows the most recent data for grain export sales and shipments along with historic patterns. Current deviations from historic norms po...

China is currently short of domestic production in the face of growing demand and prices have more than tripled since the 2003 BSE ban. China Beef Trade Te...

Ukraine exported 17.6 MMT of grains as of 23 December and from the beginning of MY 2013/14. This is an increase of 27.7 percent compared to the same period...

What might make our predictions somewhat unique is that at the end of each year we go back and grade ourselves on how well or how poorly we did. Seldom hav...

Today's markets were greeted with an improved weather outlook for both southern Brazil and Argentina. This has the effect of emphasizing that prospects for...

If global soybean demand continues to rise over the next decade at the same pace as it has since 2000/01, the world will need an additional 70-80 MMT of so...

Because the political far left and far right are now conspiring against trade liberalization, it is speculated that TPA will not be considered in Congress...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

A survey of American attitudes toward biotech food by the global research company NPD Group sends a warning and a message of opportunity. Lame Duck Honesty...

The farm bill may face some competition for floor time from a new move to extend emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) when Congress reconvenes in Janu...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

It now appears Indian soy industry officials agree that India's 2013 soybean crop will not be anywhere near as large as the 12–13 MMT that some in India we...

We must remember that the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) climate outlooks are based on an analysis of what appear to be the most likely long-term trends a...

USDA provided some interest for the soybean market when it announced that a total of 185,000 MT of soybeans were sold to unknown with 120,000 MT of that fo...

In its December review, Strategie Grains revised its wheat export estimate for the current campaign upward to 24 MMT versus 19.6 MMT exported last year. Mi...

USDA announced the sale of 120,000 MT of old crop soybeans to unknown for the current marketing year. This was a small surprise since the market has been w...

In asking organic shoppers for the scientific basis of their shopping decisions, it turns out their actions are largely based on intuition rather than the...

In a recent economic planning meeting, the Chinese government proposed focusing the nation's economic growth in 2014 on safe, balanced and green developmen...

The lack of definition makes for some potentially problematic and unintended consequences were the term to be codified.Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The obvious result of a magnificent production season will be that ending supplies of virtually every crop in Canada will rise, and the logistical problem...

GOI has agreed to provide a bailout package of $1.06 billion to the sugar industry that will be released as interest-free loans to the mills. The sugar mil...

A few representatives from Chinese companies have been roaming around the northern Plains and visiting country grain elevator (silo) companies. According t...

Former USDA officials Dan Glickman and Kathleen Merrigan assert in a Los Angeles Times article that allowing organic foods to be labeled as GMO-free would...

Wheat still struggles to find any consistent buying as the funds keep adding to their record short positions. General Comments Markets were lower in the ov...

What is interesting is the potential domino effect this nomination would have politically if it leads (as it probably will) to Baucus leaving the Senate be...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Reports out of India indicate that the country's soymeal exporters are having difficulty lining up new sales because of high prices. Deliveries of soybeans...

The larger-than-expected weekly export sales for corn and wheat were still not large enough to light a fire under either market. General Comments Overnight...

President Obama has two near-term priorities. However, a proposed nomination and a tin-eared USTR now threaten those two goals. Trade Agenda Hits Skids Pre...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The National Pork Producers Council and American Farm Bureau Federation, together with a number of other groups, said that they are likely to oppose the en...

There has been something of a symbiotic relationship between commodities and inflation for a long time. The best current example of the use of soybeans as...

The Fed's announced tapering and its low interest rate commitment did nothing for grain and soy markets that for now are off in their own worlds. General C...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Opening the meeting of the Russian-Ukrainian Interstate Commission on 17 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the intention of Russia, Ukra...

ANEC authorities are now seeking a new way to determine the priority of vessels in the Paranagua port. They are trying to maintain liquidity in the Paranag...

As one lobbyist euphemized, getting TPA through Congress is going to require a few bridges to be built in various districts and states. Building Bridges Th...

There are plenty of policy wonks conveniently picking what serves their biased positions.Forum shopping is more typically associated with litigating existi...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Brazil's soybean farmers have had to deal with two major problems this year: caterpillars that have inflicted substantial crop damage and a rainy December...

With recent news about the U.S. economy generally positive, it is widely expected that the Fed will soon cut back on its stimulus efforts through the month...

Black Sea wheat supplies are diminishing and Middle East & North Africa (MENA) buyers are going to have to look to other sources until the next harvest...

Many of the relatively new factors that can affect market cycles are the result of economic and market globalization and integration.Every freely traded ma...

The bottom line is that the refinery capacity in the Gulf is now less dependent on imported oil than ever before.As we reported yesterday, the talking poin...

The EU allocated 780,000 MT of wheat export licenses last week, bringing the total to 12.5 MMT versus 8.5 MMT allocated at the same time last year. Milling...

China' leaders reportedly expressed strong interest in feed production investment in Bulgaria at a recent summit with their counterparts from Central and E...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Weekly export inspections for wheat were in the expected range at 17.6 million bushels. The pace is now 41 percent ahead of last year. General Comments Cor...

The standard solution of most marketing analysts to the prospect of lower prices is to tell their producer clients to sell this year's crop plus the antici...

With or without e-15, one of the brewing clashes is the one coming between corn and advanced ethanol. There are only so many gallons of transportation fuel...

Of interest to agriculture, offsets for the cost of providing conservation assistance to private farm and ranch lands are included in the budget package.Th...

While Europe is now abandoning its dairy production quotas, congressional farm bill conferees are flirting with adopting the old EU policy of supply-limiti...

Corn has become a follower of the weakness in the soy complex. The situation with the prohibited GM corn variety in China is still unresolved, and there ar...

The demand for vegetable oils in India has increased over the years. Current additional factors affecting the growth in imports are the delay in the s...

The markets (and most market analysts) are either all in or all out, and there has been no better evidence of this phenomenon than what has happened this y...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

One must question why the government allows U.S. biodiesel blenders to capture the tax credit for exported biodiesel when the objective of the blender cred...

Demand for U.S. corn appears threatened by the Chinese rejections of corn shipments containing the not yet approved MIR162 GM event. Traders fear the volum...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The military's interest in biofuel is purportedly fueled by paranoia about dependence on foreign sources of oil, but those sources are mainly Canada and Me...

The FDA has come out with a plan for limiting veterinary pharmaceuticals that have human uses. In the end, the rule is somewhat of a relief to the meat ind...

The Volcker Rule's prohibition on proprietary trading by banks will directly affect today's derivative markets. A number of major banks have already closed...

One would expect trade to calm down the day following a major USDA report. That was certainly the case to an extreme with today's market. General Comments...

The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange presently estimates that the total corn area is about 3.3 million hectares, a decrease of 10 percent year-on-year. This acr...

The same policymaker who pleaded with Congress to pass the farm bill has dismissed the one piece of leverage available for compelling congressional action...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Russia's November 2013 barley exports totaled 182,547 MT, 53 percent less than October 2013 and 46 percent less than November 2012. 71 percent of the...

It might be argued that today's WASDE was slightly bullish based on the fact that overall demand for grains and soybeans in both the U.S. and the world inc...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Wheat traders seemed put off by the fact that USDA actually raised its estimate of U.S. ending stocks, although 10 million bushels one way or another does...

The official policy is that Beijing wants to be 95 percent self-sufficient in food, but the reality is that its effort to equalize rural and urban incomes...

China has rejected somewhere between 10-20 cargos of U.S. corn found to have an unapproved GMO event. The next logical question is: what will happen if Chi...

According to a recent report on GMOs in South Africa, 86 percent of corn planted is GM as well as 90 percent of soybeans. These crops are said to have...

It now appears a situation may be developing that will lead to much lower soybean prices in the future as global soybean production in 2014 might be 24 MMT...

Weekly export inspections were all higher than expected. The bears continue to say the markets are finished, but demand doesn't seem to want to go away. Ge...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Canada is having to sue the U.S. in the WTO as American politicians impose a country of origin labeling scheme intended to suppress imports of Canadian liv...

China's tight wheat supply has resulted in a high domestic price that could lead millers and trading companies to start importing supplies as early as next...

By most accounts, the U.S. numbers should be slightly bullish and supportive to prices. The key ingredient will be how much, if any, USDA chooses to i...

Much of the increase in food costs has been raw commodity price inflation that has generally started to reverse this year.Now is the time of the year when...

The question now becomes, what will they do with this crop?Stats Canada's crop production update released on Wednesday of this week simply blew the wheat m...

There is still some uncertainty as to whether an extension will be needed to cover the period between now and January.Reportedly, the big four – the chairm...

It now seems that the WTO deal in Bali will have to wait as the Indian negotiators have not acceded to the rules that govern food subsidies. Eight of the 1...

Rethinking AGOA Reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) needs to take into account the improved economic condition of some countri...

U.S. agriculture is better than a country cousin when comparing some of its statistics to health care. Ag Loses to TF The WTO deal possibly1 arrived at in...

Old crop soybean futures and basis have had a hard time weakening even with all the talk of a very bearish long-term soybean supply situation caused by pre...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The WTO's leadership is reportedly still trying to salvage a deal in Bali and has floated alternative language on a peace clause for India's proposed food...

Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest bank and a major player in commodity markets, announced that it plans to exit almost all of its commodity trading activiti...

Reports out of China indicate the Chinese government will impose a consumption tax equivalent to $154/MT on biodiesel in January in an effort to reduce imp...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The biggest and most emotional food issue we face comes from the advent of biogenetic modification of food crops. The fear is that GMO crops MIGHT pose som...

The goal of the program is to boost sales of Mexican cattle, but imports of live cattle and genetics are not prohibited, although the genetics program may...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

If U.S. agriculture fails to achieve great inroads into the Japanese market via the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), it can thank American automakers. Capi...

As of 29 November and from the beginning of MY 2013/14, Ukraine exported 13.96 MMT of grains, an increase of 19.4 percent compared with the same period las...

A month ago, official sources forecasted Argentine wheat production at 8.8 MMT.  Just several weeks ago, an official estimated that wheat exports woul...

It is fair to say that Canadian producers have never before experienced the yield and production results they are seeing in 2013. Crop scouts expected that...

Agricultural experts in Africa are saying that the first priority regarding grains should be the storage and transportation systems where as much as 30 per...

Grain and feed values will obviously be down in 2014, while oilseed export values are projected upward based on higher prices and strong early year sales o...

Argentina's government acted yesterday to assist the domestic biodiesel industry in offsetting losses in exports to Europe after the EU imposed punitive an...

What is needed is a single website for food that operates like Urban Legends or Snopes and serves as the repository of what is peer-reviewed and replicated...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Whether or not the Volcker Rule is needed is a debate that has passed as it will soon be in place. However, there will remain plenty of questions as to how...

Today's hedge selling in soybean futures appeared to result from a reported pick up in U.S. country movement and also from Brazil as an indication of some...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The bottom line is that farm income has lifted up farm assets and equity. As expected, farm debt to equity and debt to assets are down.USDA's Economic Rese...

Overnight strength gave way to some aggressive selling in the soybean market almost immediately after the day session opened. That took soybeans and corn l...

Current crop budget worksheets for 2014 look to be break-even at best. While cash prices for the 2014 crops have been weakening, cash rental rates and land...

China's leaders recently announced the first significant relaxation of the country's one-child policy in nearly 30 years. There are, however, certain impli...

Food regulators are trying to keep pace with market changes in the context of public ignorance and political opposition. Argentina – Dead Ahead In an inter...

The EU allocated 577,000 MT of wheat export licenses last week, bringing the total to 11.2 MMT versus 7.3 MMT a year ago at the same time. Milling Wheat Th...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

As Iran's relations with the West thaw, India could also accelerate investment in that country for its own interest as it is doing with the Port of Chabaha...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

USDA took several actions this year to intervene in the market to prop up prices, and this is the first time in a decade that it has had to do so.Ethanol m...

Deciding what to plant the last several years has been easy, but it will be quite different in 2014 based on the current market outlook.I was at a farm man...

The government of Prime Minister Tony Abbott was sworn into office just over two months ago on a pledge of economic liberalism (and social conservatism) fo...

Weekly soybean sales totaled 1.4 MMT with 992,000 MT of the total to China. USDA also announced the sale of 110,000 MT of soybeans to China in MY 2014/15...

High input costs this season are causing Argentine farmers to suffer from smaller margins. The depressed ARS peso and logistical espenses are also having a...

Ukraine exported 12.8 MMT of grains as of 22 November and from the beginning of MY 2013/14. This was an increase of 15.8 percent compared to the same perio...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The wheat market ignored the overnight sale of French wheat to Egypt and rumors that India was preparing to offer another 500,000 MT to 1 MMT for sale from...

Agriculture is a much larger share of the Brazilian economy, but someone at USDA needs to start a campaign to stop the silliness that is helping countries...

The Congressional Budget Office (CB0) has prepared scoring on a number of policy options that would help budget conference negotiators produce a budget by...

Turkey is expected to release up to 1.2 MMT from the government's 3 MMT of reserve stock local wheat into the country's market. This will certainly reduce...

The world's 2013 crop production so far seems to reflect a common denominator, which is that crops in most major producing countries turned out better than...

The rich countries ought to suggest to India that it use a novel feature called the market for solving its sense of food insecurity. Market Solution for Ba...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

Some forex analysts are becoming quite bullish on the U.S. dollar in 2014. A stronger U.S. dollar would impede the competitiveness of U.S. grain, soybeans...

The EU today published the regulations imposing anti-dumping duties on biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia. Both the Argentine and Indonesian go...

As of 7 February, either the suspension will have to be extended or a new debt limit established. If not, the Treasury would have to resort to its extraord...

China's retail milk price has been increasing significantly over the past few months due to the considerable raw milk shortage in the domestic market since...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The main reason for the high premium in Ukraine is that its corn has been accepted by all the major destinations as a reliable origin, and buyers are ready...

Most have blamed currency exchange and inflation issues for the lack of active selling by Argentine farmers. However, there are some differences of opinion...

Today's grain and oilseed prices...

The day-to-day trading pattern of these markets has been one day of strength in the soy complex with weakness in corn and wheat, followed by the opposite a...

The dominant news in the markets these days continues to be the overwhelmingly bearish attitudes surrounding every market except U.S. equities. Nearly all...

...

General Comments Soybeans set the trading pace overnight with strong gains, and those gains pushed prices even higher when today's session started trading...

Two of the biggest items on the table for the current farm bill conference are nutrition spending under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP...

Corn and Soy Corn arrivals in Andhra have been increasing over the past two weeks, but the quality is mediocre. Current prices range from $181-190/MT at th...

Transatlantic Frustrations It is difficult to imagine a successful Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) given that the two sides find so m...

We think it is fair to say that markets have poor memories, collectively speaking This is not surprising as traders are always looking ahead. They measure...

Nuclear Implications The decision by Senate Democrats to use the so-called "Nuclear Option" in order to increase their capacity for approving judicial cand...

Cattle Herd Rebuilding Has Begun Corn prices hit their lowest level in three years recently, providing relief to feeders. On top of that, pasture condition...

U.S. Soybean Industry Takes Sustainability Message to European Buyers I have been in Istanbul, Turkey this week attending a European Buyers Conference orga...

General Comments Grain and soy futures were firmer overnight, and volume was noticeably improved as traders anticipated that USDA's weekly export sales rep...

...

Ukraine and EU Ukraine has reportedly been torn over a closer association with the EU and its moral dictates versus alignment with Russia, but it may have...

...

Argentina: Change of Key Ministers Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner refocused on her agenda after resting for more than a month due to he...

Russian Grain Markets: 13-19 November 2013 Harvesting Updates As of 19 November, grain and leguminous crops were harvested on 41.5 million hectares, 94.3 p...

General Comments Cliché though it may be, the word that best describes today's grain and soy futures market is quiet.  Trading ranges are small with o...

  News Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS Australia reports that the largest ever single shipment of barley (77,000 MT) has been sent to Saudi...

Brazil Declares Emergency over Caterpillar Infestation in Soybeans Soybean farmers in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Mato Grosso are suffering big losse...

...

U.S. stock market indices are setting new record highs about every other day, but commodity markets have been generally headed in the opposite direction. I...

General Comments It was an outside down day for the soy complex, but the technically oversold corn and wheat markets finally found some support and managed...

Infrastructure Costs to Soybeans The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has published the third in a series of books on Latin American integration with...

In the November edition of WPI's monthly publication, Ag Review, we covered the topic of Africa and agriculture. Specifically, we examined meat, milk and p...

...

China Seeks Options to Increase Agricultural Output China finds it increasingly challenging for its agricultural sector to meet the food demand that is dri...

It's been a pretty amazing month for the market bears. It's also been a pretty amazing month for the world's farmers, most of whom are nearly always some d...

Acrylamide and TTIP As transatlantic negotiators look for ways to make their regulatory differences more coherent, the regulation of acrylamides presents a...

This past Friday afternoon, USDA announced the third invitation round of the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP) to convert federally-held sugar into ethan...

Milling Wheat The Russian wheat offer at the market remains unchanged from last week, but there were no reported trades or close buying interests.Egypt's G...

General Comments Corn and wheat spent the entire session trading lower, while soybeans and soymeal were higher. Corn continued to suffer a hangover from EP...

Low GHG Ambitions Negotiators from over 140 nations have begun the 19th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Warsaw, Poland where th...

Here are a few things to think about during this period of almost non-existent news surrounding the markets: This is from a press release from the state...

General Comments Soybeans were the story of the day as people tried to figure out why they went from trading down 5-6 cents when markets reopened at 8:30 a...

EPA today released the proposed 2014 required volume obligations (RVOs) for 2014. The final version of the 2013 RVOs was released in early August of this y...

...

Indian Poultry Industry in Need of a New Vision The Indian poultry industry needs support from within (policy framework) as well as outside by way of new t...

Big changes are underway at the CFTC. Its chairman, Gary Gensler, has made it known for quite some time that he intends to leave his post on 3 January 2014...

U.S. Top Market for Argentine Biodiesel Now that the EU has imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Argentine biodiesel, exporters have shifted their foc...

General Comments Recall how prices sold off going into the November WASDE, only to realize that bearish anticipation was perhaps exaggerated. A repeat may...

New Jersey Election Over – Animal Welfare Politics Ongoing Republican Governor Chris Christie was re-elected in New Jersey to a second term this month. The...

The U.S., EU and others have had trouble with the G-33's proposal for flexibility in operating domestic food stockholding programs due to the likelihood th...

...

Rainforests versus People The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and other environmental NGOs are concerned that the U.S. FDA's announced prohibition against...

...

General Comments Here are some snippets of information regarding exchange-traded futures and options volume during the first eight months of 2013 (January-...

Local Prices above Payment Capacity Argentine farmers are presently observing a condition in their local grain prices that has not existed during the past...

Russian Grain Markets: 6-12 November 2013 Harvesting Updates As of 12 November, grain and leguminous crops were harvested on 41.2 million hectares, 93.6 pe...

The government shutdown in October turned the November WASDE into something quite unique. The forced cancelation of the October WASDE meant there was a two...

Food Stamp Behavior Change Republicans seeking to cut food stamp spending via the farm bill largely worry about disincentives to work and personal responsi...

  News Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS Following comments made in Saudi Arabia over the past few weeks, the organization responsible for Sa...

General Comments USDA reported that as of last Sunday, 84 percent of the U.S. corn harvest was finished and 91 percent of the soybean harvest was complete...