The Mosaic Company has announced that they will begin the process of idling the Araxa Mining and Chemical Complex as well as idling mining activities at the Patrocinio Complex in Brazil. According to the company, the idling of these facilities is expected to reduce annual phosphate production at Mosaic Fertilizantes by approximately 1 million tons. Bruce Bodine, President and Chief …
Strait of Hormuz Reopening Considerations
Maritime officials say the buildup of ships on either side of the Strait of Hormuz will take months to restore normal traffic when it does open. Reuters reporting there are over 3,000 vessels now in the Gulf area, including over 800 oil tankers. The narrow passage when the Strait does open when it meets the Gulf of Oman like a three-lane highway merging into …
Second Weekly Crop Report Released
The second weekly crop progress report of the season yesterday afternoon. Of course, attention on planting progress for the various crops, but also a lot of attention on the improvement or lack of it for winter wheat. Some of the lowest conditions ever for early in April. Major states like Nebraska, Kansas, and that excellent category still below 10 percent. Even the good percentage …
December Corn Futures Could Indicate Highs
We share interesting data looking at December corn futures. December corn has never set an annual high for the year during the month of March. The high last month, $4.98 and a half. So, history shows producers should expect an annual high over $5, likely within the next 60 to 65 days. Since history also shows December corn seldom sets a new high …
Planting Concerns For Growers
It’s about planting time across the southeast, but a major problem for farmers, a three-month drought, has really got the farmers waiting to decide when to plant, how much to plant, and markets are changing. The war in Iran is creating some big issues, not only on the price of fertilizer, but on freight rates and fuel surcharges, and counting increases in energy costs …
Five-Year Fertilizer Duty Review is Underway
A five-year review of countervailing duties on phosphate imports from Morocco and Russia is underway. Agri-Pulse reported that fertilizer producers Mosaic and Simplot say they’re in favor of keeping the duties in place. The tariffs range from 16.6 percent to over 47 percent, and have been in place since 2021 when Mosaic filed a countervailing duty case. The Commerce Department’s …
Looking in on the Peanut Market
Talking about the peanut market, as farmers try to decide what to plant this year, cotton is improving and that could influence the amount of acreage on peanuts. They say it’s going to be down 14% on the first estimate. The market is extremely quiet in all parts of the world, especially in the southeast of the U.S. and parts of Virginia and …
USDA Provides Insights in Latest Cattle on Feed Report
The USDA Has released the latest Cattle on Feed Report and USDA Livestock Analyst Michael McConnell provides insights into beef supplies as we get closer to grilling season. McConnell said, “Overall our feedlot inventories remain about on par with where they were a year ago. Placements were actually up year over year during February, which that’s the first time that’s happened since …
Hog Inventories Up According to USDA’s March Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report
The USDA has released the March Quarterly Hogs and Pig Report and USDA Livestock Analyst Michael McConnell shares the details from the report. McConnell said, “As of March 1st, an estimated 74.3 million hogs were in the United States. That was fractionally higher than March 1st a year ago. 5.89 million hogs were in the breeding herd, which is 1% lower …
Grain Trade Review After Recent Reporting
The grain trade has had two days now to react to the acreage and stocks numbers from Tuesday. We expect a mostly quiet end to the trade today ahead of the Easter weekend. Looking at this grain trade, first weekly crop progress report of the season is next Monday afternoon, and with April showers, early fieldwork delayed, but rain is going to …










