CBOT November 2020 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans sag on harvest pressure, investor caution

CBOT December wheat closes higher

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures fell on Friday on expectations for the harvest of both crops to expand in the heart of the Corn Belt, and on investor caution following news of U.S. President Donald Trump’s positive test for COVID-19, analysts said. Wheat futures firmed on concern about dry weather in […] Read more

New Brunswick’s new agriculture minister, Margaret Johnson. (Facebook)

Rookie MLA named New Brunswick ag minister

Blaine Higgs' Tories sworn in as majority government

A politically-active retired New Brunswick schoolteacher is the province’s new minister for agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries. Premier Blaine Higgs, whose new Progressive Conservative cabinet was sworn in Tuesday in Fredericton, appointed Margaret Johnson, the newly elected MLA for the northwestern electoral district of Carleton-Victoria, to handle the ag and fisheries files. In last month’s provincial […] Read more


File photo of Diefenbaker Lake in southern Saskatchewan. (IanChrisGraham/iStock/Getty Images)

Federal irrigation pledge seen flowing mainly to Prairies

Infrastructure plan also includes promised broadband support

Prairie provinces will receive the bulk of Ottawa’s $1.5 billion commitment to support irrigation projects, according to federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday launched a three-year, $10 billion infrastructure plan aimed at five different sectors, including agriculture. The $1.5 billion is expected to result in 700,000 acres of irrigated land. […] Read more

CBOT December 2020 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn hits seven-month top on tightening stocks

Chicago November soybeans end flat, December wheat down

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose to a seven-month peak on Thursday, boosted by strong export sales and bullish government data indicating domestic stocks were smaller than expected, traders said. However, corn settled off its highs and soybean futures erased gains to end flat, under pressure from an influx of grain sales by […] Read more



Bayer’s cross symbol hangs in a terminal at Frankfurt International Airport. (Typhoonski/iStock Editorial/Getty Images)

Bayer plans more cost cuts, impairment charges

Pandemic now expected to hit crop science wing

Berlin | Reuters — German drugs and chemical company Bayer announced plans on Wednesday for more than 1.5 billion euros (C$2.34 billion) of cost cuts as of 2024 and said it would take impairment charges on its agricultural business as it battles with low commodity prices. Bayer said that the impact of the coronavirus on […] Read more



CBOT November 2020 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy, wheat futures surge on lower-than-expected stocks

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade grain and soybean futures soared on Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture surprised traders by reporting crop inventories that were smaller than expected. Supply levels have declined after China, the world’s top soybean importer, stepped up its purchases of U.S. farm goods this summer. Corn supplies […] Read more



CBOT December 2020 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy ease as harvest advances

USDA quarterly stocks data awaited

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures closed lower on Tuesday on expectations of rapid harvest progress this week and a slowdown in demand from China, a big buyer of U.S. soybeans and corn, in recent weeks, analysts said. Wheat futures also fell but declines in all three commodities were muted as traders […] Read more