CBOT July 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and November 2021 soybeans (yellow line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans firm on long-term forecast, China demand

Wheat mixed on winter crop harvest, spring wheat drought

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures advanced on Monday on renewed buying by China and as concerns lingered about dry conditions in western portions of the Midwest farm belt despite scattered storms over the weekend. Corn futures were mostly lower as rain in the central corn belt boosted crop prospects, while wheat was mixed […] Read more

CBOT July 2021 corn (candlesticks) with CBOT July 2021 wheat (orange line) and July 2021 soybeans (dark green line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy, wheat up after sell-off

Some traders feel Thursday's sell-off overdone

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn, soybean and wheat futures rose sharply on Friday, rebounding from steep declines a day earlier on bargain-buying ahead of the weekend and uncertainty about weather in the Midwest crop belt, analysts said. Fresh export interest lent support as this week’s break in futures appeared to stimulate demand. Chinese state-owned […] Read more


Storage tanks at a PBF Energy refinery at Delaware City, Delaware on Aug. 21, 2015. (File photo: Reuters/Charles Mostoller)

U.S. refiners amass biofuel liability as Biden mulls relief

Open RIN positions could hit refiners' earnings

New York | Reuters — U.S. merchant refiners have amassed up to a US$1.6 billion shortfall in the credits they will need to comply with U.S. biofuel laws, according to a Reuters review of corporate disclosures, an apparent bet that the Biden administration could let them off the hook or that credit prices will fall. […] Read more



CBOT July 2021 corn (candlesticks) with MGEX, CBOT and K.C. July 2021 wheat (green, black and orange lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy plunge on weather, broad commodities sell-off

CBOT wheat follows trend lower

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures fell sharply on Thursday, pressured by outlooks for rain and cooler temperatures in the Midwest crop belt, as well as spillover from broad-based selling in the commodities sector, analysts said. Wheat followed the weaker trend, with seasonal pressure noted from the U.S. winter wheat harvest. Chicago […] Read more



CBOT July 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with CME July 2021 crude palm oil and ICE July 2021 canola (green and yellow lines, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans down with vegetable oil prices

Chicago July corn, wheat up

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell on Wednesday to their lowest level in nearly two months, pressured by a retreat in global vegetable oil prices from multi-year highs, analysts said. Corn and wheat futures ended mixed, with the nearby July corn and wheat contracts closing higher, while back months declined. Chicago Board of […] Read more

CBOT July 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20- and 100-day moving averages (green and black lines) and ICE November 2021 canola (yellow line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy eases on improved weather view

Chicago corn mixed, wheat down

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell on Tuesday on an improved weather outlook for the Midwest crop belt, analysts said. The forecasts for cooler and wetter conditions later this month also pressured new-crop corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), although front-month July gained against back months on spreads, reflecting tight […] Read more


CBOT July 2021 corn (candlesticks) with CBOT, MGEX and K.C. July 2021 wheat (orange, green and yellow lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy sag as crop weather outlook improves

Moisture stress remains in parts of Corn Belt

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell by almost four per cent on Monday on forecasts for improving crop weather in the Midwest, including cooler temperatures and beneficial rains late this week, analysts said. Soybeans fell more than two per cent and wheat followed the weaker trend as the U.S. winter wheat harvest got […] Read more

I bioassayed soil in January from a field treated twice with the herbicide tribenuron-methyl in 2020 to determine if the field was suitable for a canola crop this year. It was not — the potted field soil fried the canola seedlings, which is shown in the photo at bottom. The photo at top is the check. I recommended the farmer stay with wheat this year on this quarter.

Herbicides and bioassays

A dry fall followed by a dry spring may leave much higher levels of residual herbicides

When you use a soil-persistent herbicide, there are many factors you must consider very seriously. The first thing you have to do is read the label that comes with the herbicide. It will tell you how to mix and apply, water source, what weeds are controlled and so on. Read it very carefully. Of course, […] Read more