Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. in early August 2017. (File photo by Dave Bedard)

Barley trade routes redrawn as China tariff hits Australian farmers

China's barley purchases from Canada more than double last year's

Sydney/Paris | Reuters — Out in Australia’s grain fields, farmers have started harvesting one of their biggest-ever barley crops, after drought-relieving rains convinced many to plant to the edges of their paddocks. Yet the tractors are working under the cloud of a new tariff imposed by China — seen widely as retaliation for Australia’s push […] Read more

CBOT January 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans firm on export demand, record crush

Rising energy, equities markets give grains additional lift

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose for a second straight session on Monday, holding near a more than four-year high hit last week, on strong demand from top buyer China and data showing the U.S. soy crush pace hit an all-time high last month. The strong demand stoked worries about thinning supplies of […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sag as COVID surge threatens meat demand

Demand uncertainty also weighs on hogs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. livestock futures slumped on Friday as soaring coronavirus cases raised expectations for lockdowns on commerce that will hurt demand for meat from restaurants, hotels and other venues, analysts said. Cities and states across the country have moved to re-impose restrictions to tame new spikes in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. Additional […] Read more

CBOT January 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (green line) and ICE January 2021 canola (yellow line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans up again on export demand, supply concerns

Markets recover after setback on Thursday

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain futures rose on Friday as soybeans traded near a 4-1/2-year high reached earlier this week on strong export demand and tightening domestic inventories. The soybean market appeared to be well supported at current prices, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture ignited a rally with a report on Tuesday that […] Read more


ICE January 2021 canola with 20-day moving average (yellow line) and CBOT January 2021 soymeal (green line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Bull market in canola’s grasp

That said, watch for cracks in demand side of equation

MarketsFarm — Canola is deeply in the hold of a bull market that could push nearby contracts to $575-$580 per tonne, according to Errol Anderson of ProMarket Communications in Calgary. “A bull market always needs to be fed and it keeps getting fed,” Anderson said, referencing the November supply and demand report from the U.S. […] Read more

CME December 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures move up off one-month low

Lower corn, soy values support feeder cattle

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Thursday in a rebound from a one-month low reached in the previous session, while live cattle futures weakened. The hog market’s recovery carried futures to their highest level since Monday. Traders said the market continues to face pressure from large U.S. supplies and uncertainty over […] Read more


CBOT January 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybean futures surge again to new four-year high

USDA cuts corn, soybean yield estimates

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures soared to a fresh four-year high on Tuesday and corn topped a one-year high after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said stockpiles this marketing year will fall to their smallest in seven years. The forecasts, issued in a monthly crop report, reflected a decline in […] Read more

(OceanFishing/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly outlook: Bullish USDA report sends soy, corn up sharply

MarketsFarm — Soybean and corn yields in the United States ended up much smaller than early expectations, according to updated supply and demand estimates released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The resulting drop in production and ending stocks has sent futures rallying to new contract highs, with more gains likely. Average U.S. soybean […] Read more


CBOT January 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy futures touch new four-year top

Pfizer update on COVID vaccine sends shares, oil higher

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures reached a new four-year high on Monday as the first successful data from a late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trial fueled hopes of the economy recovering quickly from the pandemic-driven crisis. Broad optimism about Pfizer’s vaccine trials added support to a soybean market already buoyed by strong Chinese demand and […] Read more

CBOT January 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with ICE January 2021 canola (yellow line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans hold near four-year high

Focus shifts to Tuesday's USDA report to gauge tightening supply

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures held near a four-year high on Friday as Brazilian dryness and strong demand from leading importer China kept the market focused on the prospect of tightening supplies. Corn and wheat dipped but were underpinned by weather risks and Chinese-fueled international demand. The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago […] Read more