USDA announced more details on financial aid to farmers hurt by trades disputes. Direct payments to growers will total $4.7 billion, with $3.7 billion for soybean farmers, who will receive $1.65 per bushel on 50 percent of their projected production. For comparison, payments for [...]
In response to the spread of swollen shoot disease (CSSVD), over half a million hectares of trees could be cleared in Ghana; another 100,000 hectares would be cleared in Ivory Coast, at least initially. The African Development bank (AfDB) is reportedly still willing to [...]
The Chinese government recently restated its plan to formulate all automotive gasoline with 10 percent ethanol by 2020. China will promote the use of ethanol in 13 regions this year, including Beijing. Under this plan, the government plans to reduce its massive corn stockpiles, [...]
COPA reports that over 838,000 MT of canola oilseed were crushed in July, up 12 percent from July 2017. The crush volume was a record for July and near the all-time record of 871,000 MT set last October. Canola oil production, at 379,300 MT, [...]
For top-producers Ivory Coast and Ghana, heavier precipitation across cocoa growing regions reported in the last week should help pod setting and growth. Of course, if rains are too heavy, there could be a risk of damage to flowers and pods that would otherwise [...]
Wheat usually takes a back seat to other grains; however, as the global fundamentals tighten, it is worth keeping an eye on wheat due to its correlation with other markets. Though wheat global inventories are expected to reach an all-time high of 273 million [...]
The nearby refined white sugar future contract, Oct-18 #5, closed at US$370 per metric ton on Monday—around US$16.78 per cwt. This is the lowest close for a nearby contract since December 2008. The contract specifies sugar with polarity at or above 99.8. It is [...]
Brazilian farmers are getting ready to plant soybeans in September, and the government expects higher plantings once again. Analysts estimate the planting of around 36.3 million hectares (89.7 million acres), surpassing U.S. plantings for the first time. Brazil’s soybean plantings have been expanding at [...]
