Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures firmed on Friday as daily processing levels began to rebound, a sign that COVID-related staffing woes may be easing, traders said. Meatpackers have struggled with staffing shortages due to the surge in Omicron coronavirus infections, traders said, limiting production in recent weeks. Beef processors slaughtered an […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures up with daily slaughter levels
Hogs up on technical buying, cash prices

Feed weekly outlook: Markets facing uncertainty
MarketsFarm — Feed grain markets in Western Canada are facing some uncertainty amid tight domestic supplies and reports of transportation issues bringing up corn from the United States. “It’s very strange,” said Susanne Leclerc of MarketMaster Ltd. in Alberta. “You see stories like that (reporting on feedlots running low on grain), then you talk to […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans hit seven-month high on supply worries
Firm U.S. dollar sinks wheat; corn down
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rallied to a seven-month high on Thursday on concerns about a smaller South American harvest, which could shift more global demand to the United States. Wheat slumped for a second straight session on a stronger dollar and slightly reduced fears that Russia would invade Ukraine and potentially disrupt […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs drop on profit-taking, technical selling
Faster slaughter pace drags on cattle futures
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell on Thursday, dragged by technical selling and profit-taking following a recent rally to contract highs. Tight U.S. hog supplies had fueled the recent gains and remained a supportive factor, but the market was oversold. “We had a key reversal in April hogs yesterday and […] Read more

Canada hopeful for P.E.I. table potato trade in weeks to Puerto Rico, U.S. mainland
Reuters — Canada is hopeful of resuming shipments of table potatoes from the province of Prince Edward Island to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico in two weeks, and to the U.S. mainland in the weeks following that, partially resolving a trade dispute, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said. Bibeau met in Washington on Thursday with […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Canola in stratosphere as old-, new-crop gaps narrows
MarketsFarm — With so many influences affecting ICE Futures canola, one trader said it’s hard to figure just where the Canadian oilseed will go. Another trader, however, said the days of canola fetching more than $1,000 per tonne for an extended period of time are pretty much over. “It’s probably the craziest period we ever […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Potential for conflict, interest rate hikes affects prices
MarketsFarm — The ongoing standoff between Russia and the West over Ukraine, along with speculation regarding key interest rates from the U.S. Federal Reserve, were two major factors on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) during the week ended Wednesday. The potential for a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine had caused a sharp hike in […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans reach seven-month peak
Oil strength, South American crop worries lift soy; CBOT corn up, wheat down
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures hit their highest in seven months on Wednesday on technical buying and as soyoil futures rallied with energy markets and historically high palm oil prices. Concerns about a reduced South American harvest and exports from top soy supplier Brazil offered further support, with strength spilling over into corn […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up on improved slaughter pace
Lean hogs down on profit-taking
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished higher on Wednesday on technical buying and as rising U.S. slaughter rates eased concerns about cattle supply backups. Cattle processing rates have ramped up after pandemic-related staffing shortages at some meat plants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated Wednesday’s cattle slaughter at 118,000 […] Read more

Viterra to buy Marubeni’s U.S. grain firm Gavilon
Grain handler looking to expand reach in Americas through acquisitions
Grain firm Viterra’s plans to buy an expanded global reach are about to move forward with a 10-figure deal for the bulk of U.S. ag commodity firm Gavilon’s grain business. Viterra, owned by commodities firm Glencore and two Canadian public-sector pension funds, announced Wednesday it will pay $1.125 billion to buy Omaha-based Gavilon from the […] Read more