Latest News From Global Economy

Just this week, China’s largest real estate firm was told it must liquidate after trying to restructure for two years. Some experts say the country is teetering on a recession.

Pay attention to the national corn yield, the number of planted corn acres and Brazil's corn and soybean crops.

Jon Scheve summarizes the latest weather conditions of the Mato Grosso region in Brazil and how it is impacting prices. He also discusses what to expect in this week's USDA report.

Noted ag economist Dr. David Kohl forecasts tighter margins in the year ahead and emphasizes the need to globalize and future-proof operations. 

From the election to world trade, as well as geopolitical factors that have the potential to shape agriculture in 2024, the December Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor shows the possibility of several economic surprises.

Jon Scheve discusses what variables in South America will contribute to price fluctuations for the next month.

The focus of the soybean market continues to be South American weather and crop expectations. Jerry Gulke says whether or not forecasted rains occur will set the direction for the market into next week and beyond. 

Let this sink in: One state in Brazil — Mato Grosso — produces the equivalent of Illinois and Iowa’s soybean production combined. Here's a look at South America's growing regions, crop calendar and production capacity.

The shift to an El Niño weather pattern is creating dynamic market conditions. In particular, the U.S. soybean market will be extremely sensitive to threats to the Brazilian crop.

While the U.S. and EU aim to make progress during an upcoming summit, reaching a final agreement is uncertain. This issue has significant implications for U.S./EU ties, climate goals, and geopolitics.

China's Commerce minister expressed concerns over trade and tech restrictions to U.S. Senate Majority Leader this week. That's as the U.S. Commerce Department added 42 more Chinese companies to the export blacklist.

While ag economists continue to be at odds when it comes to the likelihood of a recession in the U.S., some doubt the country's biggest importers will be able to avoid a recession over the next 18 months.

A historic drought has severely cut the size of this year's crop in Argentina, especially soybeans. Processors will be forced to import soybeans just to stay in business.

As Americans, we are free to debate the budgets, the policies, the processes and purpose of our role in this conflict. I can’t, however, ignore the humanity paying the cost. 

“When Ukraine fails, in terms of their ability to produce agricultural products, the world becomes less safe,” says Howard Buffett, global philanthropist and Illinois farmer.

With Brazil's March beans priced 80 cents lower than US beans, there are rumors grain contracts could be cancelled. Jon Scheve explains how this works and how farmers could be impacted.

How will big South American production impact U.S. producers who are preparing to plant a crop this spring? 

It didn’t start with the swing of an ax in the Amazon or by an explosion in Kiev. Both contributed, but the shifts in global grain flows is a multifaceted prism through which the future is continuing to evolve.

Jon Scheve discusses how issues in Ukraine and Brazil may mean upside potential for corn.

Speaker McCarthy agreed that the House wouldn’t lift the debt ceiling unless Congress slashes federal spending next fiscal year. Because of this, Bank of America is telling clients to expect a debt default this fall.

If the nation’s debt hits $31.4 trillion—it’s on track to do so by this Thurs.—the Treasury will need to take “extraordinary measures” to help pay the government's operations and ward off a historic default.

Jon Scheve provides rationale for why soybean prices may go up or down in 2023

Jon Scheve discusses why corn prices may go up or down in 2023.

“There is a problem with people thinking the pullback of Covid-zero measures is equivalent to the economy reopening, which it is not." says Leland Miller, CEO of research firm China Beige Book.

Foreign investors own 37.6 million acres of U.S. agricultural land, which is 2.9% of all privately held agricultural land and 1.7% of all U.S. land.

While U.S. agriculture isn’t facing an existential threat, the same cannot be said for farmers abroad, particularly in the developing world.

China moved to close parks, malls and museums on Tues. as COVID-19 cases hit near-record levels. Lockdowns follow reports that, days before COP27, Xi sent policy and business advisers to New York to meet U.S. executives.

We take so many things for granted—but as Thanksgiving approaches, we should count our blessings and express our thanks.

Europe is racing to investigate potential acts of sabotage after both the natural gas pipelines linking it to Russia suffered inexplicable, sudden leaks. This comes as Europe transitions away from Russian fossil fuels.

“There are still more questions than answers, but we did get a vessel out the door,” says Dan Basse, president of AgResource Company.

Food is essential to sustaining life and will ultimately be the key to rebuilding Ukraine’s future. 

Economists see interest-rate increases raising likelihood of recession to 44% in coming 12 months.

Dive into these 13 trends that could impact your farm.

Brazil’s second corn crop, also known as the safrinha, is expected to produce a record 3.465 million bushels in the 2021/22 crop season. That’s 45% higher than last year.

Information arrives every day in our lives as a mashup of seemingly unconnected ideas, facts and guesses. 

When farmers or ranchers in the U.S. face tragedy others in the industry are quick to help. That same mentality, of farmers helping farmers, has reached Ukraine as support rolls in from across the globe.

"Right now, Ukraine’s grain silos are full,” says David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme. “At the same time, 44 million people around the world are marching towards starvation."

Ukrainian farmers in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia are determined to get their fields planted this spring.

Understand how global headwinds and tailwinds will affect your operation.

Trade disruptions in energy, fertilizer and grains are inevitable. In fact, effects are likely to last for years, possibly even decades. 

If we don’t plant now, we can’t harvest later. We’re farmers, and this is what we do. This year is like no other. Just to survive, we’ll have to show more resilience than ever before.

Before Putin’s forces even breached the Ukraine border, fear and speculation drove commodity prices skyward. Concerns are warranted.

Farm commodity prices, production costs and consumer food prices are higher than would have been expected a few months ago, according to the 2022 U.S. Baseline Outlook report by FAPRI.

We could be headed for a volatile year – or more – in both ag commodities and energy. Here are just a few reasons for strong prices.

This article discusses the factors impacting the market right now for both corn and beans and what to expect in the coming months.

Clinton Griffiths talks with market experts to dive into how these global events will impact the agricultural markets and more.

The world changed quickly over the last days, requiring a reassessment and perhaps “reset” in thinking.

Hopes for docile agriculture markets in 2022 have already been blown out of the water. Instead, we could be headed for a volatile year – or more.

AgriTalk’s Davis Michaelson hosted Vince Malanga, president of LaSalle Economics, on Tuesday, Jan. 25, to dive into the current events and potential market impacts. 

After growing up in a small town in northeast Michigan, spending time in Bosnia and earning a degree in economics from Iowa State University, Kauffman started his career with the Federal Reserve.