Chicago fed and live cattle futures hit record highs last week and that will likely push up the price of beef at a time when consumers are already shocked at the level of food inflation.
D'Arce McMillan
Stories by D'Arce McMillan
Markets focus on weather, credit tightening and oil price
With the weather finally warming, market watchers’ attention in coming weeks will be focused on the pace of planting progress in North America while they also keep a wary eye on interest rates, credit availability and oil prices. The cool start to spring on the northern Plains means there is a larger than normal area […] Read more
Hoping for a year of fewer anxieties and calmer markets
After staring at supply-demand ratios and historical futures price graphs, I’ve concluded that crop markets are in a similar state to what they were in the early spring of two years ago. And I wonder if analysis of supply and demand will return as the key factor dominating crop price movement after a year when […] Read more
China’s hunger for corn one reason to help end the war
Chinese president Xi Jinping visits Russia this week to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to sign agreements to cement closer ties between Moscow and Beijing. Fresh off of success brokering a peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, China wants to burnish its image as a world leader that can do things that its […] Read more
Global wheat market is calm compared to previous year
It has been a rough couple of weeks for grain markets as futures prices fell for several reasons, including expectations for continued wheat supply from the Black Sea regions and worries over the slow pace of American corn exports. Chicago May soft wheat saw the biggest percentage decline in the two weeks between Feb. 23 […] Read more
Crude oil prices have fallen but could rally in second half
After a year at elevated levels, oil prices are back near where they were before Russia invaded Ukraine but diesel, while moderated, is still above pre-invasion prices . With the seeding season only a few weeks away, Canadian farmers hope their diesel costs don’t see a repeat of last year when prices soared in response […] Read more
Falling fertilizer costs benefit corn in U.S. planting plans
Several factors, including falling input costs, should encourage American farmers to increase corn plantings this spring, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But actual seeding doesn’t begin for almost two months so weather and other issues could alter the seeding mindset between now and then. Crop prices fell following the USDA Outlook Conference where […] Read more
China’s four-legged consumers set for high-rise living
We all know that China’s food demand and production is a major factor in global agricultural trade. And the first representative image of Chinese imported food demand that comes to mind might be a crowded marketplace with lots of shoppers. However, what is likely a more accurate picture is a hog production facility because so […] Read more
Canola exports, soy oil and meal all affect canola’s price
We are a little more than halfway through the crop year and it looks like exports and domestic use of major crops are on pace to reach the forecasts set out in Agriculture Canada’s monthly supply and demand outlook. Later on, I’ll also look at developments in soybean oil and meal markets, but first, let’s […] Read more
Palm’s influence on veg oil market neutral to supportive
Palm oil production is expected to rise only a little this year and global use is rising, leading to expectations that year-end stocks will shrink. That is usually a recipe for solid price support, but the market is also influenced by policy decisions and energy markets so pricing predictions are hard to make. Palm oil, […] Read more
