Dan Flynn

Chinese government officials have urged grain importers to purchase less foreign grain claiming to have ample demand due to weaker demand. CBOT futures shed modest premium following better-than-expected rainfall in portions of MO, Southeast IA, and Northern Il. China has confirmed it's plan to keep barley/sorghum imports slow until their corn harvest is nearly completed to prop up domestic prices. Ag Resources (ARC) expects that China secures 20-24 MMT's of corn in 2024/25 – the difficult question is who will be the supplier – the US, Argentina or Brazil. Price will determine from whom China secures corn later this year. China's domestic corn premiums vs. offers are historically elevated ($3.40+/Bu), and ARC reiterates total world trade through late August is record large by a wide margin. Global feed grain demand growth is intact into 2025. The corn story is unchanged. US ethanol production, exports and production margins remain elevated. Competition from South America, Ukraine, and Russia is down sharply from last year. Seasonal trends as well as fundamental input support a bottom. Midwest foliar diseases could pull the US corn yield below 180 BPA the final. Following September liquidation, who is left to sell corn futures at 4-year lows – not the US farmer. Corn is forming its seasonal/annual low.

A letter, sent last week to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack from major representatives of the U.S. dairy, turkey, and egg industries, may have had an impact.

As harvest approaches producers are also focused on booking fall fertilizer needs and are frustrated that prices are not reflecting lower grain prices. The latest Illinois Production Cost Reportshowed that anhydrous ammonia was 15% higher than a year ago while monoammonium phosphate (MAP) was quoted 7% higher than last year. Dealers have been slow to lower prices as CBOT corn and soybean markets sit at multi-year lows. Ag Resources (ARC) showed a chart of the diammonium phosphate (DAP), the world's most widely used phosphorus fertilizer, The average IL DAP price 6% above last year at $716/ton. Moreover, at current CBOT prices, it takes 193 bushels of corn to pay for 1 ton of DAP, up from 142 bushels last year and the most since 2009. US farmers are looking for ways to cut back on cost via fertilizer, seed or equipment. The US fertilizer is showing surprising strength as China curtails exports.

The USDA has released new guidance for food companies that make animal-raising and climate claims about their food. This updated guideline makes

The California Legislature has banned more food ingredients in the name of food safety. This time, six food dyes are being banned from California's public schools. Passed unanimously by the California Senate and Assembly, the California Food Safety Act only awaits the governor's signature to become law.

So called alt-meat, cultivated from cells and grown in laboratory-like facilities, has experienced regulatory and market success in only fits and starts. But it remains enough of a threat to traditional animal agriculture. And several states are ready to save animal agriculture by banning alt-meat entirely.

The bipartisan voice for the nation’s state legislatures has expressed new confidence in the federal Food and Drug Administration for food safety. It is

Four petitions for policy changes — one from 2016 — have received final rulings from USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The oldest petition

“The Mysteries of Kratom,” a documentary exploring the potential of kratom in addressing America’s opioid epidemic, will become available for free on

That human case of A(H5) avian flu in Missouri that had no known contact with poultry or other animals has been confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.