(Lisa Guenther photo)

Force majeure declared for CBOT soy shipping stations

Chicago | Reuters –– CME Group declared force majeure for all soybean shipping stations until further notice because of flooding on the Illinois River, a notice from the exchange operator said Monday. A majority of facilities on the river, which are delivery points for soybean futures traded on CME’s Chicago Board of Trade, are unable […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. grain prices soar as floods shut waterways, threaten crops

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain farmers scrambled to find shelter for their crops and handlers hunted for alternative transportation routes, as widespread floods shut waterways from Illinois to Missouri and spurred a surge in physical prices of corn and soybeans. The sudden jump in prices could complicate a months-long stand-off between farmers who are […] Read more

Floods close two Ardent flour mills

Reuters — Two Illinois flour mills near the Mississippi River and operated by Ardent Mills were shuttered because of flooding this week, the company told Reuters on Wednesday. Ardent, the largest U.S. flour miller, operated jointly by Cargill, ConAgra Foods and CHS Inc., said the mills in Chester and Alton will remain closed “until the […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill to sell crop insurance unit to Silveus

Reuters — Global commodities trader Cargill will sell its crop insurance business to the Silveus Insurance Group next month, the two companies said Tuesday. The deal will close the second week in January, said Tyler Silveus, CEO for Silveus, based in Warsaw, Indiana. “We are not disclosing terms of the deal, other than we are […] Read more



(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Wintry blast cuts both ways in U.S. cattle country

Chicago | Reuters — A major winter storm rolling across the U.S. Plains on Monday disrupted transportation of cattle to beef packing plants in sections of the region, said experts. However, they said, the rough weather supported cattle and wholesale beef prices struggling against abundant overall meat supplies and heavyweight animals. The storm, dubbed Goliath, […] Read more

Rising Mississippi waters bring barge traffic near halt

Chicago | Reuters –– Rapidly rising floodwaters brought barge traffic to a near standstill on the middle section of the Mississippi River on Monday, halting shipments of goods such as soybeans, concrete and road salt, government officials and traders said. The deadly storms have killed more than 40 people in flooding and tornadoes, snarling air […] Read more


(Lisa Guenther photo)

U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on improved Brazil weather forecasts

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures fell for a fifth straight session on Monday as forecasts for rains across Brazil’s key producing region Mato Grosso eased concerns of potential yield losses in the world’s largest exporter. Corn futures fell to life-of-contract lows on fears of slowing export demand, and wheat followed […] Read more

(Lisa Guenther photo)

U.S. grains: Rain in Brazil’s forecasts dampens soy futures

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures touched a one-week low on Thursday as expectations for beneficial rains in top exporter Brazil overshadowed stronger-than-expected U.S. export sales. Concerns about large U.S. supplies and poor export demand pushed March corn to settle at a new contract low, while wheat futures reached a three-week low. Traders kept […] Read more


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