AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Feb. 16-20)

We're talking with Jim Daven, market analyst with Commercial Grain Inc. in Conway, Ark.

We'll start in the grain sector. Jim, is this week's back and forth action in the grain market any indication of what to expect in the near future?




Switching gears and looking at rice and cotton. Jim, have there been any changes in the supply and demand aspects for those crops?




Finally, we'll take a quick glance at cattle. Jim, will livestock markets mimic the stock market as others have?




Thanks, Jim! We look forward to talking with you again next week.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Feb. 9-13)

Scheduling conflicts got in the way of us getting to chat with market analyst Jim Daven last week, but we made a connection this week.

Jim, we'll start with grains. After a neutral crop report from USDA this week, should we expect more downside movement in the grain markets?




Taking a quick look at the rice and cotton. Jim, how will the markets for those crops be influenced by this last USDA report?




Lastly, we'll talk about the cattle markets. Jim, are cash cattle prices starting to improve as compared to the board?




Thanks, Jim! We'll look forward to talking with you again next week.

Transparency in Markets Bill Passes Committee

WASHINGTON-(Farm Progress)--The House Agriculture Committee has approved legislation to increase the transparency and strengthen oversight of futures, options and over-the-counter markets. By voice vote, the Committee approved the Derivatives Markets Transparency and Accountability Act of 2009, a bill sponsored by Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn.

Sections of the bill will be referred to the Financial Services, Energy and Commerce and Judiciary committees, Peterson noted, and said that leadership will eventually have to decide whether and how to bring the bill to the floor.

The legislation toughens position limits on futures contracts for physically-deliverable commodities as a way to prevent potential price distortions caused by excessive speculative trading. The bill also imposes a clearing requirement on OTC derivatives contracts and empowers the Commodity Futures Trading Commission with the ability to suspend trading in naked credit default swaps under certain circumstances.

"This bill broadens and improves on last year's bipartisan derivatives legislation," said Peterson. He called on Congress to act quickly and pass a bill that will bring much-needed transparency to derivatives markets.