Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

Anti-Meat Activist Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States may have scored success getting McDonald's to oppose gestation crates for hogs,...

A Snapshot of Indian Oilseeds Production and Prices Oilseeds production is expected to be 30.53 MMT for 2011/12 against last year's 32.48 MMT. Peanut is th...

General Comments News from Greece was bearish last Friday and at least somewhat bullish over the weekend. The Greek Parliament did approve the austerity me...

USDA today released its first, and very preliminary, supply and demand estimates for the 2012/13 marketing year and, as expected, the numbers were bearish...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

President Obama today unveiled his FY 2013 budget proposal. Under the plan, revenues grow by 60 percent and spending increases by 12 percent between now an...

I spent this past week on the road at farmer meetings that took me across much of western and northern North Dakota and as far north as Winnipeg. These wel...

China's Vice President Xi Jinping will visit Washington next week, 14-15 February, to give an address on Sino-American relations. Strong friendships are de...

WPI provides a summary of the week's futures price activity and the gains/losses experiences by grain, oilseed, and livestock markets. Additionally, today'...

We previously reported on the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) baseline budget projections (see WPI 3 February 2012), noting that the CBO report project...

Addressing The Economist conference this week on "Feeding the World," WTO Director General Pascal Lamy queried: "First, is it safe that the world's agricul...

General Comments Markets were weak across the board today following yesterday's weak closes and because today was another one of those "risk off" days. Wit...

WASDE and More on Cattle USDA released this morning the February WASDE. The livestock highlights are: Lower expected broiler weights, with hatchery...

General Comments USDA released its February WASDE this morning, and today's futures markets saw prices swing widely on both sides of yesterday's closes. Ma...

Pea-shooting at­ Biotech The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) report that biotech crop acres expanded 8 perc...

The market was wary of the way USDA's February WASDE would treat impact of the drought and heat that threated crops in Argentina and southern Brazil. Obvio...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

No Surprises in USDA Supply-Demand Report for Oilseeds There were no significant surprises in today's USDA supply-demand report for oilseeds. In fact, USDA...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

General Comments Grain and soy prices traded both sides overnight but traded them only lightly. This directionless price pattern continued during the day s...

In yesterday's report (see WPI, 6 February), Dave Juday pondered whether this is a different farm land boom. Today we will explore some of the differences...

Russian Grain Market: 31 January – 7 February 2012 GRAIN COMMODITIES AND FLOUR Last week's upward trend in the Russian domestic grain market strengthened.&...

Weather ARGENTINA RECEIVES GOOD RAINS Good rainfalls were received yesterday over core productive areas of the country. About 40 to 50 millimeters fell in...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

News Updates IRANIAN GRAIN IMPORTS: STOPPED OR DELAYED Estimates vary widely on how many ships and how much cargo is sitting in Iran ports waiting to disch...

February is a good month to take stock of where we are and to speculate about trends and events that might help shape price action and direction. The title...

U.S. Vegoil Trade Deficit Continues to Grow The U.S. is the world's largest oilseed producer. It is now the world's second-largest oilseed processor after...

General Comments Today's grain and soy markets had a pre-report feeling about them. Volume was thin, trading ranges were narrow and price movements were ch...

Fairness and Food Knowledge, income and food all collide in a microcosm of the larger societal issues now being confronted. Macro Influences and Fundamenta...

The Jewish Passover seder rite begins with the youngest person, the one least familiar with history, to ask the question, "Why is this night different from...

Ethanol Skids The ethanol industry's long run of policy and market support is catching headwinds from all directions. Although enactment into law will be t...

This Thursday's USDA WASDE report should not hold any major surprises for the market, but we say that cautiously based on the recent history of surprises...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

Japan and TPP U.S. and Japanese officials meet tomorrow to discuss Tokyo's desire to join the TPP negotiations. Washington fully capitulated on the use of...

General Comments Markets were weak the first half of the Sunday evening session but turned slightly higher when Europe went to work. Strength in French whe...

A preview of the Annual Energy Outlook released late last month shows the basic projections that the Energy Information Agency (EIA) will fine tune during...

India's Food Grain Production to Jump India may witness another record food production in 2011/12 amid favorable weather, especially in the wheat growing a...

President Obama will submit his FY 2013 budget proposal to Congress on 13 February, one week late. The first Monday in February is the deadline for the pre...

General Comments Markets were weak early in the evening session but crawled back to finish slightly higher. The impetus for the recovery was strong trade i...

Today was a day of several important market stories -- unusual for a Friday in early February. Some stories were routine, while others were more weather re...

WPI provides a summary of the week's futures price activity and the gains/losses experiences by grain, oilseed, and livestock markets. Additionally, today'...

Baffling Trade Policy Trade policy aficionados in Washington are scratching their heads over some parts of President Obama's recent announcement. These inc...

Milling Wheat The Black Sea milling wheat market remains firm due to very limited offers from farmers and exporters. The cold front passing through Eastern...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

Farm Bill as Obesity Remedy While representatives of producer groups fret over achieving consensus on farm support policy in the 2012 Farm Bill and ensurin...

NCBA on Animal Welfare, Dust, COOL, Estate Taxes and Farm Bill As previously reported (see WPI 5, 26 January 2012), livestock groups are lining up in oppos...

General Comments When buying interest began to dry up during the last hour or so of Wednesday's day session, grain prices -- and to a lesser extent, soy pr...

Yesterday the EU Commission formally rejected the proposed merger of Germany's Deutsche Borse and NYSE Euronext, the owner of the iconic New York Stock Exc...

This week, I have been making my annual pilgrimage to Minnesota to participate in five farmers' meetings organized by the state's main farm radio network...

General Comments Yesterday's strong rally in the grains and soy complex was extended again overnight, and it carried through into the morning session. Once...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

Weather More Rains in the Forecast After several weeks of drought, it now seems that the weather is becoming more humid. The forecast is calling for good r...

Russian Grain Market: 24-31 January 2012 GRAIN COMMODITIES AND FLOUR Russia's domestic grain market last week showed a clear trend of increasing prices for...

Clever EU GMO Wording Never underestimate the wordsmithing capacity of Brussels. The new proposed procedure for member states to opt out of the planting of...

Following USDA's January reports, the soybean market has tended to focus on the threat to South American soybean production posed by the drought and, of co...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

Like the farm bill reauthorization this year, Congress will be taking up the reauthorization of the highway bill. It was passed unanimously last year out o...

News Updates MOROCCAN AGRICULTURE A report issued last week is quite bullish Morocco's agriculture, although grain imports will have to continue at high le...

EPA Rejects Palm Oil-Based Biodiesel as Acceptable Renewable Fuel The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last Friday ruled that biodiesel produced...

General Comments Beginning with the overnight session, the grain and soy markets turned higher, reversing yesterday's losses. By the opening of the day ses...

Foreign Investors Remain Bullish on India Reports from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) indicate that India's Foreign Exchange Reserves had declined by $14.25 b...

Last week was the first week of trading for the new Canadian ICE wheat futures contract. Here are a few details on the first week's trade. Total volume f...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

Retiring Senator Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota) is a busy guy in his last year in office. He is chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and therefore in the...

General Comments Markets were soft in the Sunday evening session on another round of weakness in financial markets. There is still no agreement on the rest...

The Whole Label The anti-GMO crowd is excited as they push mandatory labeling provisions at the state level. Food Safety News quotes Washington State Senat...

General Comments It was a very quiet and lackluster trading day following a week of significant gains in corn, soybeans and wheat. This week's gains were t...

Weather is always a huge factor in commodity markets, but it's beginning to look like weather in 2012 may be even more critical than usual for a number of...

One of the obvious facts about ethanol is that it is abundant in the Midwest Corn Belt. In fact, from the beginning of the ethanol mandate through to 2009,...

Gaming Biofuel Trade barriers affect not only food but also food used as fuel. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  announced today that palm oil...

WPI provides a summary of the week's futures price activity and the gains/losses experiences by grain, oilseed, and livestock markets. Additionally, today'...

Grounded Bulk Carrier in Parana River Navigation in the Parana River (Upriver, Argentina) has been affected since 17 January by the grounded vessel, MV Ari...

Packer Margins Deep Red; Beef Herd Down in 2012 Beef packer margins last week sunk to -$125.50, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker, with feedyar...

TPP to the Forefront The Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations have reignited the interests of Washington trade lobbyists. It promises to be financially l...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

Buenos Aires Grain Exchange Forecasts Soybean Crop at 46.2 MMT The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange today issued its first forecast for Argentina's 2012 corn an...

No one can say that for agricultural derivative markets, the year of 2011 lacked for excitement and drama -- some of which was quite painful. Some of the e...

General Comments The hangover from yesterday's accommodating stance taken by the Fed extended the rally in most commodity markets. The promise of historica...

General Comments Overnight trade saw prices trade both sides before finally climbing into the green. Fund buying and more talk about the hot cash grain bid...

Russian Grain Market: 17-24 January 2012 GRAIN COMMODITIES AND FLOUR A major recent event in the Russian grain market was the government-held auction of gr...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

Wrestling with Government Burden President Obama joked about regulating milk spills, but the anti-regulatory burden is an intensely emotional issue. This i...

News Updates SUEZ CANAL TRAFFIC INCREASES Egyptian authorities have reported that the Suez Canal's revenue increased by just under 10 percent in 2011 to a...

When January 2012 comes to an end a week from today, we will have gone through the first five months of the U.S. corn and soybean statistical crop year and...

Argentina Reduces Soybean and Corn Production Forecasts Argentina's Agriculture Ministry yesterday reduced its forecast for its 2012 soybean crop to 48.9 M...

General Comments The Fed FOMC two-day meeting is underway with the usual statement due Wednesday afternoon. In it, the Fed is expected to reiterate again i...

The State of the Union (SOTU) annual address is tonight, and President Barack Obama will be presenting his third SOTU to members of Congress. In anticipati...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

Coffee Consumption Changing in India Starbucks, the U.S.-based coffee giant, and Tata Coffee have finally agreed to forge an alliance, and are likely to op...

As we have predicted many times, we foresee a debate on the Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) in 2013. The lack of cellulosic ethanol production is putting to...

You don't have to look very far to be buried in bearish market outlooks these days. This is especially true when you shift your thinking ahead to the 2012/...

General Comments Markets were firm overnight on euro strength and dollar weakness coupled with the fact that rains across Argentina were not nearly as heav...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

General Comments The Thursday evening session traded higher the first half of the session and then shifted lower the last half of the session. There is ano...

Milling Wheat The market in the Black Sea is nearly unchanged this week with very little reported activity. The winter is not causing a particular threat t...

Ask Mayors How to Farm The 80th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors was held in Washington this week.  At least half of the Obama Administ...

WPI provides a summary of the week's futures price activity and the gains/losses experiences by grain, oilseed, and livestock markets. Additionally, today'...

There are arguably three top issues of 2012 that will play out in Congress and with the Administration that will dominate the agenda, help drive the electi...

The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) announced this week that the CFTC had approved changes in their hard red spring wheat delivery specifications. ...

In the past two months, the spread between natural gas and crude oil continues to widen. Brent oil remains high despite cuts in the 2012 demand outlook mad...

In the past two months, the spread between natural gas and crude oil continues to widen. Brent oil remains high despite cuts in the 2012 demand outlook mad...

During the past several years we have occasionally discussed the grouping together of different commodities such as crude oil, corn, copper, softs, etc. in...

General Comments The overnight session saw grain and soy prices strengthen in moderate trading volume even though forecasts for rain over Argentina and Sou...

Certainly Certainty USDA and EPA signed a MOU with Minnesota this week that ensures that farmers reaching agreement with one agency on a conservation plan...

In terms of global exports of vegoils, sunoil exports have always been a much smaller than exports of soyoil and palm oil.  However, that seems to be...

Broiler Hatch Down; Beef Imports Down but Strong Yesterday USDA released its Broiler Hatchery Report showing Broiler-type eggs set down six percent and chi...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

Russian grain market 9-17 January 2012 Grain commodities and flour According to the decision of the Ministry of Agriculture on 12 January 2012, the Ministr...

Weather Argentina is suffering a significant drought in the corn and soybean belt. Cordoba as well as Santa Fe provinces are the most affected by the weath...

General Comments The overnight session for grain and soy futures began with some follow through strength, but prices turned and drifted lower as additional...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

Argentina Corruption Forecast First, the Argentine government tried to force a trade balance by requiring importers to export an equivalent value of goods...

NOPA's December Soybean Crush Volume a Bit Higher than Expected Today's crush report by the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) indicated NOPA m...

By now, last week's USDA's reports on production, stocks and supply/demand should be well digested. Obviously, the combined reports were bearish relative t...

As we reported on 10 January, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has a new farm bill proposal approved at its annual convention.  More recentl...

General Comments Lacking much in the way of fresh fundamental input, grain and soy markets allowed themselves to be influenced by a few positives from the...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

Adulterated Milk Abounds in India A recent report from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sent shockwaves to every Indian parent...

NEWS UPDATES IRAQ AND JORDAN FREIGHT ROUTE The route for cargo to and from Jordan by truck through Iraq has been up in the air for the past few weeks, as p...

Milling Wheat The market in the Black Sea is slightly weaker due to the sharp fall of the U.S. and EU markets following yesterday's bearish USDA report.Tun...

Thursday's USDA reports were bearish, and corn took the brunt of the bearish action closing down the 40-cent limit. Corn stocks were larger than expected,...

General Comments Grain and oilseed markets traded both sides of unchanged in the Thursday evening session, with little follow-through selling noted after y...

WPI provides a summary of the week's futures price activity and the gains/losses experiences by grain, oilseed, and livestock markets. Additionally, today'...

We wrote about President Obama's concept of creating a singular business and trade department back on 24 March 2011, so this is part reprise. But, the plan...

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday issued the "Beige Book," the annual "Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions by Federal Reserve District" tha...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

No Major Surprises for Soy in USDA Reports Even though the initial market reaction to today's USDA production, stocks, supply, and demand data was substant...

General Comments It is hard to come up with much in the way of insightful analysis for a market such as the one we saw today. USDA spoke, and markets react...

Direct Speak Diplomats from democratic countries returned from the climate change meetings in Durban, South Africa last month saying that they had accompli...

On 23 December, we noted that the impending influence of today's Stock report was difficult to anticipate. We asserted that there was no guarantee yields w...

With the plethora of fresh data that USDA's reports provide each January, the chances that they will contain something surprising is pretty high. When ther...

WASDE Today's WASDE shows a total red meat and poultry production up for 2012 over last month's projections, mostly due to pork production. USDA's Quarterl...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

Russian Grain Market: 2-9 January 2012 GRAIN COMMODITIES AND FLOUR General Official Data on 2011 Harvest According to data provided by the Russian Statisti...

Drought Damage Hits South American Crops The South American drought continues to be the major problem in ag commodities these days. Brazil is in the best s...

New SPS World Back in 1990, imports of wine from France and Italy were found to contain procymidone, a fungicide approved in Europe but not in the U.S. The...

General Comments Good rains fell across many southern and central portions of Argentina overnight. Amounts varied mostly between 0.5-1.5 inches, although a...

The level of nutrition spending, particularly in regard to the record year for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has driven and will co...

News Updates JORDAN AND TUNISIA, NEW EBRD MEMBERS Jordan and Tunisia are the newest members of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and are...

On Thursday, 12 January, USDA will release a trifecta of reports with NASS reporting its final 2011/12 corn and soybean yield and production estimates acco...

Certain clients have asked if it would not be equally advantageous to hedge next season's production in more actively traded nearby contracts rather than i...

General Comments After blistering heat on Monday, rain finally returned to Argentina today with scattered showers due to cover 60-70 percent of the country...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

Brazil's CONAB Surprisingly Raises Soybean Forecast The Brazilian crop supply agency (CONAB) today raised its forecast for Brazil's 2012 soybean crop by 0...

Delhi Microcosm of Doha The U.S. has now twice cancelled intended bilateral meetings with India on the reported basis that New Delhi was unlikely to grant...

Forty percent of the U.S. annual corn production now goes directly into ethanol production. As the world is fully aware, this is a massive number that has...

Last Friday (see WPI 6 January), we wrote about the role that nutrition will play in the upcoming farm bill. Today, we take a closer look at nutrition spen...

Starving for Nation Change A client passed along research from the New England Complex Systems Institute in which physicists, not economists, correlated hi...

General Comments Grain and oilseed futures were steady to higher in the Sunday evening session and gained strength as it wore on. The day session opened mu...

India's Potential Key to Growth: Overseas Indians India is currently hosting its 10th summit for non-resident Indians and will honor some of the leading In...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

On Thursday, 12 January, USDA will release its final production estimates for the 2011 corn and soybean crops. The last change to these production forecast...

General Comments Markets of every type were somewhat subdued today. The U.S. jobs data was better than expected, with 200,000 jobs reportedly created in De...

Milling Wheat The market in the Black Sea has made an impressing rally during the last two weeks due to the slowing of farmers' selling, and the general ma...

Years and years ago (as the tale goes), food stamps were put into the farm bill to create a coalition of lawmakers willing to vote for a bill that would pr...

WPI provides a summary of the week's futures price activity and the gains/losses experiences by grain, oilseed, and livestock markets. Additionally, today'...

General Comments The midday GFS weather model dialed in more rain for central Argentine crop areas than previous model runs had shown. Now it is calling fo...

Drought is Still the Main Issue in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay As with last week, the main topic of discussion in South America is the ongoing drought...

Traders recognize that grain and soy complex prices are likely to remain volatile going into USDA's Prospective Plantings report that will be published on...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

Sharp Increase in Indian Soymeal Exports in December India's Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) today reported that India exported 798,041 MT of soymeal...

Red Meat, Dairy Weighing in on Poultry Cages A group including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, American Sheep Industry Associa...

When the old year passes into a new year, it is common to look back at the important events, trends and other features of the old year (as we did last week...

Options Bias CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton blocked Nadex from launching this week its proposed binary options on political events, like the 2012 president...

President Hu Jintao of China told Communist Party members that hostile forces abroad are attempting to divide their country with western influences, accord...

Today's closing prices for the first six listed futures contracts for major grain, oilseed, and livestock contracts are shown along with their price change...

General Comments The definition of drought is a lengthy period of abnormally dry weather. A drought does not mean the total absence of precipitation. The o...

Due to Christmas and New Year holidays, there is no Russian markets report this week. Kazakhstan's 2011 Harvest Results In 2011, there were 29.96 MMT of gr...

Structure of Agriculture The structure of agriculture is at issue all over the world.Kenya: Officials in Nairobi are reportedly streamlining its governance...

News Updates News is a little short this week due mainly to the holidays, but there is still enough going on to make for some interesting reading. STRAITS...

Activity in the Chicago SRW wheat market spilled over into those for HRW and HRS wheat futures. Changes in the soybean, soyoil, and soymeal futures point t...

General Comments Commodities opened 2012 trading with an impressive rally that included grains and the soy complex. The rally was sponsored by a number of...

Wed 01/04/2012 3:00 PM Broiler Hatchery NASS...

Continued Dry Weather in Argentina and Southern Brazil If the farmers of southern Brazil and Argentina had been hoping the New Year would bring them needed...

Today is sort of New Year's Day for many U.S. commodity futures markets, particularly grain and soy markets. With the long weekend and without an overnight...

Trade Snowball Japan's decision to join the Trans Pacific Partnership was just a part of the strategy. The Nikkei reports that Tokyo also engaging in a tri...

Cotton Production Up, Prices Crash Cotton production in India is likely to be 26.1 million bales (of 170 kg each) for 2011/12, according to the new assessm...

With the budget battles, class warfare is emerging as a major theme for the 2012 election campaign. There is debate about raising taxes like the estate tax...