Agri Market Buzz

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary (Jan. 25-29)

2010-01-29T16:00:00.002-06:00

Grain Market Update:

Rice and Cotton Market Update:

Livestock Market Update:

Join us again next week for another market recap!

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Stephen Gross (Jan. 18-22)

2010-01-22T15:55:00.002-06:00

We're talking to Stephen Gross, market analyst with Commercial Grain Inc. in Conway, Ark.

Stephen, grain markets dropped this week, even though the export numbers were good. What do you see taking place?

We'll switch gears, Stephen, and look and rice and cotton. Those markets had a considerable amount of movement this week. What's the latest news?

Finally, we'll glance at livestock. Stephen, those markets seemed to be making a turnaround this week. Where can producers expect it to go from here?

Thanks, Stephen for another update! We look forward to hearing from you again next week.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Stephen Gross (Jan. 11-15)

2010-01-18T14:06:00.003-06:00

We're talking to Stephen Gross, market analyst with Commercial Grain Inc. in Conway, Ark.

Starting with grains, Stephen, those markets reacted heavily to USDA's production reports. What does that change mean for ag producers looking to hedge?

Moving to rice and cotton, Stephen. Rice markets took a pretty big hit this week. What are the latest developments there?

Lastly taking a look at livestock. Stephen, those markets had a good week of trading. Where can producers expect it to go from here?

Thanks, Stephen! We'll look forward to another update next week.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Jan. 4-8)

2010-01-08T15:39:00.003-06:00

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

We'll look at grains first. Jim, those markets took a slide this week. Should we blame the Index Funds?

Moving to rice and cotton. Jim, rice has seen a considerable amount of inconsistency during the past few weeks. Give us an overview of both markets.

Finally, taking a glance at livestock. Jim, Taiwan imposed restrictions on U.S. beef this week. Will this action affect the cattle markets?

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

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Dec. 14-18)

2009-12-18T15:03:00.002-06:00

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

We'll look at grains, first. Jim, those markets took a tumble the last part of the week. Is that loss an indication the markets could have topped out?

Switching to rice and cotton, Jim. The week started off with high prices in the rice market. Then, the bottom fell out. What happened?

Finally, taking a glance at livestock. Jim, the holidays are typically a slow time for the cattle markets. What do you see after the first of the year?

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

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Nov. 30 - Dec. 4)

2009-12-04T15:59:00.002-06:00

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

Let's start by looking at grains. Jim, the word is China's U.S. grain buying is coming to an end. Will this stimulate more downside selling in markets?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Jim, it's rumored that both India and the Philippines will fall short in rice production this year. Is that true?

Finally, glancing at livestock markets. Jim, it's the holiday season and demand for beef has dropped. Should we expect more long liquidation selling in the cattle market?

Thanks, Jim! We look forward to hearing from you again next week.

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

2009-11-20T15:30:00.002-06:00

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

We'll start with grains. Jim, as you know, it's been a volatile week for grain markets. What plans should producers be making for the upcoming 2010 season? Should they be taking advantage of this volatility?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Jim, now that India has signed on to become a buyer of US. rice, will our market be supported by this move, and what trend do you see developing as a result of this agreement?

Lastly, looking at livestock. Jim, traditionally, the holidays are a time for higher poultry sales which can affect beef demand. Are there any new developments in the livestock markets, and when should we expect higher cattle prices?

Thanks, Jim! We look forward to hearing from you again next week.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary (Nov. 9-13)

2009-11-13T16:07:00.005-06:00

We're talking to Mitchell Nail, News Director for AgWatch Network.

We'll start off with grains. Mitchell, what activity did we see for those markets this week?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Mitchell, what updates do we have for cotton and rice this week?

Lastly, looking at livestock. Mitchell, what factors were impacting Chicago cattle futures this week?

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Stephen Gross (Nov. 2-6)

2009-11-06T15:12:00.003-06:00

We're talking to Stephen Gross, market analyst with Commercial Grain Inc. in Conway, Ark.

We'll take a look at grains first, Stephen. This week started strong for producers. What happened?

Switching to rice and cotton. Stephen, we've gotten too much rain here and India needs rain. Is that beneficial?

Lastly, looking in at livestock. Stephen, the livestock markets are moving similarly to the grain markets. What factors have caused this trend?

Thanks, Stephen! We'll look forward to getting another update next week.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Oct. 26-30)

2009-10-30T15:49:00.003-05:00

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

We'll start off with grains. Jim, we have a lot of water, and it's getting late in the year. How should producers market their crops under these conditions?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Jim, bring us up to date on those markets. What is the big concern for cotton producers and what's causing the price of rice to trend up?

Lastly, taking a glance at livestock. Jim, we've heard that China could actually open its borders to U.S. pork. Is this just a false rumor, or is it true?

Thanks, Jim! We'll look forward to hearing from you again next week.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Oct. 19-23)

2009-10-23T15:22:00.002-05:00

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

We'll start off with grains. Jim, with grain market prices up right now, should grain market producers be marketing their 2010 crop?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Jim, those markets are showing continued upward movement. Will this progression be sustainable for any length of time?

Lastly, looking at livestock. Jim, grain market prices are up. Are the cattle markets starting to feel any repercussions from those prices?

Thanks, Jim! We'll look forward to hearing from you again next week.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Oct. 12-16)

2009-10-16T11:32:00.002-05:00

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

We'll start off with grains. Jim, we usually see a down-trend during harvest, but this year is different. Why is that?

Switching to rice and cotton. Jim, do we have any new developments in those markets this week?

Finally, moving on to livestock. do you think the present down-trend in the cattle markets will continue?

Thanks, Jim! We'll look forward to hearing from you again next week.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Oct. 5-9)

2009-10-09T15:28:00.002-05:00

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

Jim, as you know, the USDA production report came out Friday morning. Where do we stand, production-wise with corn, soybeans, wheat and rice?

Moving to rice and cotton. Jim, this week, cotton markets seemed to get support from outside markets. Should we expect this pattern to continue for the short term?

Lastly taking a look at livestock. Jim, we have a two-part question. Will the livestock markets bounce up in response to the other markets, and what would it take to make that happen?

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

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Stephen Gross (Sept. 21-25)

2009-09-25T15:56:00.003-05:00

We're talking to Stephen Gross, commodity broker with Commercial Grain Inc. (CGI) in Conway, Ark.

We'll look at grains first, Stephen. What can we expect to see from the turbulence in the grain market?

Switching to rice and cotton. Stephen, do you think we'll see a turnaround in those markets?

Lastly, looking at livestock. Stephen, the EPA passed a reporting requirement this week. What does that mean for U.S. cattle producers?

Thanks, Stephen. We'll look forward to another market update next week!

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Sept. 14-18)

2009-09-18T15:57:00.003-05:00

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

Looking at grains first, Jim. Following a volatile week in the grain markets caused by weather concerns, what should a producer do under these circumstances?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Jim, this week those crops seemed to take a back seat to other commodities. Should we expect this pattern to continue through harvest?

Finally, taking a glance at livestock. Jim, will the purchase of Pilgrims Pride by Brazil's JBS Swift benefit U.S. producers?

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

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Stephen Gross (Sept. 7-11)

2009-09-11T15:03:00.002-05:00

We're talking to Stephen Gross, commodity broker with Commercial Grain Inc. (CGI) in Conway, Ark.

We'll start off with grains. Stephen, U-S-D-A released another batch of crop reports this week. What impacts did they have on grain markets?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Stephen, with U-S-D-A raising cotton and rice production forecasts this week, will an increased supply balance the Indian Monsoon troubles?

Finally, Stephen, taking a look at livestock. How well have the hog and cattle markets held up in a continually slumping economy?

Thanks, Stephen! We'll look forward to another market report from CGI again next week.

Corn Drops on Speculation U.S. Farmers Will Have Bumper Crop

2009-09-01T10:22:00.001-05:00

CHICAGO-(Bloomberg)--Corn slumped after a U.S. Department of Agriculture report increased speculation that this year’s harvest may be larger than forecast. Wheat also fell.

About 69 percent of the U.S. corn crop was in good or excellent condition as of Aug. 30, compared with 61 percent a year earlier, the USDA said yesterday.

“No doubt there will be another bumper crop for corn in the U.S.,” Hiroyuki Kikukawa, general manager of research at IDO Securities Co., said today by phone.

Corn for December delivery fell 1.1 percent to $3.2625 a bushel in electronic trading on the Chicago Board of Trade at 2:25 p.m. Paris time. The most-active contract lost 5.7 percent in August, the third monthly drop.

The USDA has predicted a crop of 12.761 billion bushels, 5.5 percent more than last year and the second-largest ever.

About 75 percent of corn plants in the top 18 producing states were filling kernels with sugars and starch as of Aug. 30, up from 57 percent a week earlier, the USDA said. The average in the previous five years was 88 percent.

An estimated 32 percent of the crop was denting, when kernels begin to advance toward maturity, down from 42 percent a year ago and the five-year average of 60 percent, the USDA said.

Wheat Declines

Wheat for December delivery in Chicago dropped 0.6 percent to $4.9575 a bushel. The price yesterday touched $4.8075, the lowest level since Dec. 8. The contract dropped 5.6 percent last month, the third consecutive decline, partly because of slack demand for U.S. inventories.

Euronext milling wheat for November delivery gained 50 cents, or 0.4 percent, to 127.50 euros a metric ton in Paris.

Soybeans for November delivery fell 0.3 percent. The oilseed dropped 3.1 percent yesterday.

“The U.S. soybean crop, following planting delays, will be vulnerable if early frost hits,” Kikukawa said. “This may reduce crop yields.”

About 93 percent of soybean plants were setting pods and beginning to fill them with beans as of Aug. 30, compared with 85 percent a week earlier and the five-year average of 96 percent, the USDA said. Pod-setting is the most critical crop development period in determining final yields.

Drought in India, the world’s fifth-largest soybean producer, may curb output of the oilseed and boost demand for U.S. and South American supplies, Timothy Loh, marketing director at the American Soybean Association regional office in Singapore, said in a phone interview today.

“Right now, all indications point to a drop” in India’s soybean production, Loh said. “If the weather is bad, then it could be even worse than expected,” he said, referring to Indian output, and without providing a specific forecast.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Aug. 24-28)

2009-08-28T16:14:00.002-05:00

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

We'll start with grain markets. Jim, now that harvest has fired up in some parts of the country, what size of yields should we expect to see?

Taking a look at rice and cotton. Jim, with cotton harvest underway in Texas and rice harvest approaching in the Mid-South, should we expect more downward movement in those markets?

Finally, moving on to livestock. Jim, looking ahead over the next few months, should livestock producers expect cattle to move forward this fall?

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

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Stephen Gross (Aug. 17-21)

2009-08-21T15:01:00.003-05:00

We're talking to Stephen Gross, commodity broker with Commercial Grain Inc. (CGI) in Conway, Ark.

Stephen, with the Pro Farmer Tour coming to an end, what kind of impact can we expect in the grain markets?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Stephen, have there been any improvements pertaining to rice and cotton in India?

Lastly, looking at livestock. Stephen, what outside market influences seem to be working the pork and beef industries?

Thanks, Stephen! We'll look forward to talking with all of you at CGI again next week.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Aug. 10-14)

2009-08-14T16:16:00.003-05:00

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

Looking at grains first, Jim. Should producers be selling or booking more grain at these levels?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Jim, outside of weather concerns have you seen any new developments for those crops this week?

Lastly, glancing at livestock. Jim, with the USDA lowering the forecast for production in cattle this week, is it safe to assume a more positive market outlook will follow?

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

Allenberg Cotton CEO Sees Dunavant Deal By Sep 30

2009-08-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK-(FutureSource)--Major cotton merchants Allenberg Cotton Co. and Dunavant Enterprises said Thursday they are working on a merger agreement, the latest in restructuring actions that have shaken the industry in the last year. Allenberg and Dunavant are two of the three largest U.S. cotton merchants. Cargill Cotton, a division of Cargill Inc., is the other leading merchant.

Memphis-based Allenberg is the cotton arm of Louis Dreyfus Commodities Group and handles approximately 7 million bales of cotton a year. Dunavant, the largest privately owned cotton merchant in the world, handles more than 6 million bales of cotton annually. Dunavant is also based in Memphis.

The combining of the well-known world cotton merchants with long roots in the industry highlights ongoing consolidation in the market which has recently taken a hit, analysts said.

"The merger between Allenberg and Dunavant underscores the untenable situation that developed mostly as a result of extreme volatility from last year’s runaway markets," said Mike Stevens, analyst at SFS Futures in Mandeville, La.

ICE cotton futures trading was volatile in late February and early March 2008 amid an influx of speculative activity, which later prompted an investigation by the futures market regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. ICE expanded daily trading limits and raised margins during the volatile period. Many commercial entities were forced to buy back their short hedges as margin calls grew.

In late 2008, the fourth-largest U.S.-based cotton merchant Paul Reinhart Inc. filed for bankruptcy. Another large and long-lived cotton merchant, Weil Brothers & Stern decided to wind down U.S. and U.K. operations. Both merchants cited the events of March 2008 price volatility as contributing to their decisions.

"I am not sure we have ever seen anything like this- three major firms go out in one year," Stevens said.

The two firms hope to finish the merger in early fall.

"We’re hopeful to be able to reach a concluded transaction within this quarter," Allenberg Chief Executive Joe Nicosia said Thursday.

Allenberg and Dunavant have plans to combine both their U.S. and international operations, William B. Dunavant III, CEO of Dunavant Enterprises, told Dow Jones Newswires earlier Thursday.

"This merger will be a very positive event for the cotton industry and for both companies," Dunavant said.

Sharon Johnson, senior cotton analyst at First Capitol Group in Atlanta, said the deal could help some other parts of the industry.

"Smaller U.S. cotton merchants and farmers cooperatives stand to acquire some of the spillover merchandising business position amid the merger," she said.

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (Aug. 3-7)

2009-08-07T15:10:00.002-05:00

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

Taking a look at grains first. Jim, has the driving influence for grains changed from outside markets to weather recently?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Jim, will the India/East Pacific monsoon rains, or lack thereof, play a major role in those crops the coming year?

And finally, looking at livestock. Jim, we've seen some improvement in the cattle markets of late, will that continue throughout the fall?

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

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (July 20-24)

2009-07-24T13:20:00.002-05:00

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

We'll take a look at grains first. Jim, with the U.S. corn and soybean crops projected higher, should producers brace for more downside movement?

Jim, taking a peek at rice and cotton, it seems every year or so we see a weather pattern develop that affects crop production to some extent, sometimes on a global scale. Is El Niño playing a role in cotton and rice markets this year?

Lastly, moving on to livestock. Jim, feed costs appear to be leveling off, is that a factor in upside price movement in the livestock sector?

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

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (July 13-17)

2009-07-17T14:56:00.002-05:00

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

Jim, looking at grains first. Will China accelerate downside movement by offering grains for sale at this time?

Moving on to rice and cotton. Jim, is there anything interesting to report for those markets during the last week?

Finally, taking a glance at livestock. Jim, lower grain prices seem to be supporting livestock markets. Should we expect that trend to continue and if so, for how long?

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

AUDIO: Weekly Market Commentary w/ Jim Daven (July 6-10)

2009-07-09T15:31:00.005-05:00

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

We'll start off with grains. Jim, with grains falling below break even and more downside movement expected, what actions should ag producers consider taking at this point?

Taking a glance at rice and cotton. Jim, countries such as India and some Asian nations are having difficulty with water supplies. Will these developments help stabilize the 2010 cotton and rice crop in the U.S.?

Lastly, looking at livestock. Jim, should stocker producers buy more calves for feeding in this type of market environment?

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