Pro Farmer articles

Recent articles from Pro Farmer

New month, new buying in grains.
February 2, 2008... When February started, so did a fresh round of buying in the grain markets. The buying put corn and soybean futures back on track for an attack on resistance at contract highs. When January started, the "calender buy" lasted two days. If the "pattern" repeats, expect strength to roll...

January jobs 'growth' disappointing.
February 2, 2008... Non-farm payrolls fell 17,000 in January; December payrolls were upwardly revised by 64,000, to an 82,000 growth pace; November payrolls were revised down 55,000, to a 60,000 growth pace. That cut the U.S. unemployment rate at 4.9%. Average hourly earnings in January ticked up just 0.2%,...

Reflationary, not inflationary.
February 2, 2008... In eight days, the Federal Reserve cut 1.25% from the Fed Funds rate and 0.50% from the discount lending rate. That was an aggressive-enough move that some financial analysts say Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is in "panic mode." We don't think so... We are still in a transition phase from...

Grain rallies rekindled; is 'the worst' really behind livestock?
February 2, 2008... Grain rallies rekindled; is 'the worst' really behind livestock?--Friday morning brought renewed buying interest to grain futures with corn and soybeans again looking to challenge resistance at contract highs. And--believe it or not--March Minneapolis wheat futures shot to $14.03 (yes......

Steep learning curve for Schafer!
February 2, 2008... New USDA Secretary Ed Schafer has run his own company in private industry and has run his state as governor of North Dakota. But what he's learning very quickly is, "I now have a boss. I have learned that in Washington D.C., every word you say is important," said Schafer in a phone...