Cargo ships are docked in Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa on Nov. 4, 2016. (File photo: Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko)

As Ukraine grain deal emerges, U.S. aims to ease concerns over Russia sanctions

Washington | Reuters –– The United States on Thursday sought to facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports by reassuring banks, shipping and insurance companies that such transactions would not breach Washington’s sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Enabling those Russian exports is a key part of attempts by the United Nations and Turkish […] Read more



CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 200-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle jump on cash market premiums

Feeder cattle firm, lean hogs mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts firmed on Monday on technical buying and support from the premium of cash market prices to the actively traded front-month futures contract. Live cattle drew further support from firm beef prices and gains in feeder cattle futures. “Live cattle were up on the strong cash […] Read more

CBOT December 2022 corn (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy futures up off multi-month lows

Chicago wheat settles lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures rebounded on Wednesday after tumbling to multi-month lows as fears about a global recession fueled liquidation in commodity markets, analysts said. Bargain buying helped support prices following recent sell-offs by funds that were seen as overdone, analysts said. Traders remain uncertain about the […] Read more


File photo of pigs on a farm in Germany. (FooTToo/iStock/Getty Images)

Swine fever outbreak in Germany’s top pork state poses lasting threat

Risk seen for spread to neighbours Netherlands, France

Hamburg | Reuters — The spread of African swine fever to Germany’s most important pig rearing region has dealt a serious blow to the sector with major markets such as China likely to maintain import bans for years to come, analysts said on Monday. The outbreak on a farm in Emsland, Lower Saxony is the […] Read more

File photo of Black Sea port facilities at Odesa, Ukraine. (Leskas/iStock/Getty Images)

Turkish team to discuss Black Sea grain corridor in Russia this week

Turkey proposes to monitor safe passage

Ankara | Reuters — Ankara’s military delegation will travel to Russia this week to discuss details of a possible safe sea corridor in the Black Sea to export Ukrainian grain, Turkish presidency sources said on Tuesday. Russia’s TASS agency confirmed plans for the talks, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine […] Read more





CBOT July 2022 wheat (candlesticks) with 20- and 50-day moving averages (purple and black lines), MGEX July 2022 wheat (yellow line) and K.C. July 2022 wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat jumps on weaker U.S. dollar

Midwest heat lifts corn, soy

Indianapolis | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat climbed on Thursday, supported by a weaker dollar and continued uncertainty as Ukraine attempts to move grain exports through the Black Sea. Corn and soybeans firmed as hot, dry weather across the U.S. Midwest threatened to stress recently-planted crops. The most-active wheat contract of the Chicago […] Read more

File photo of a bulk port facility in Ukraine. (Olivia Sabeskaya/iStock/Getty Images)

Turkey says Ukraine grain ships could avoid mines

Russia offers safe passage

Ankara/United Nations | Reuters — Russia on Wednesday said it has offered “safe passage” for Ukraine grain shipments from Black Sea ports but is not responsible for establishing the corridors and Turkey suggested that ships could be guided around sea mines. Ukrainian grain shipments have stalled since Russia’s invasion and ports blockade, stoking global prices […] Read more