4-14-14 – Grain and soybean prices were up overnight as fresh Russia/Ukraine tensions led to concerns about exportability of winter wheat.  More concerns about continued dryness in the US Plains also are lending support.\r\n\r\n   Tensions heated up in Ukraine after a deadline for pro-Russian activists to leave occupied government buildings passed at 1:00 AM … Read More

4-10-14 – While most of the trade was concentrating on the grain and soybean aspects of the USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand report Wednesday, the USDA quietly lowered its forecast for total red meat and poultry production from last month.  Slightly higher beef production will be more than offset by lower pork, broiler and … Read More

4-11-14 – US economic strength is being questioned as the stock market continues to fade in what could be a major turn from the bull market of the last four years.  Market analysts and investors have been worried that the run would end, although some say a 10% setback would be healthy and is, in … Read More

4-9-14 – As traders await the USDA’s Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand reports around midday, the markets generally have settled into a wait-and-see mode.\r\n\r\n   However, soybean futures are up in overnight trading amid fewer order cancellations and talk that crush margins there have turned positive.  Concerns the USDA WASDE report would … Read More

4-8-14 – The situation in Ukraine just won’t go away.  Authorities there say forces have retaken a regional administration building in the eastern city of Kharkiv after it was occupied by pro-Russia separatists Monday, and Russia has warned that Ukraine is in danger of sinking into civil war.\r\n\r\n   Such a prospect is not good … Read More

4-7-14 – Grain and soybean futures are mixed in overnight trade ahead of the USDA’s April World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report due on Wednesday.\r\n\r\n   Many trade advisors expect the USDA to raise old-crop soybean demand and lower the ending stocks.  They also expect old-crop corn demand to be hiked and the carryout … Read More

4-4-14 – US stocks may retain overnight gains after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning that the economy added 192,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate held steady at 6.6%. \r\n\r\n   Investors had expected a figure of around 200,000 new jobs, but this may be close enough since it likely will … Read More