In the News

The next issue of Agri Marketing will include an update on Farm Broadcasting. All ads half page or larger will be studied by Readex. To schedule your organization's ad contact Audrey Evans: AudreyE@AgriMarketing.com; Ph: 515-954-8589.

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Stairway to Farm Heaven

Surely the first rung is located at the Farm Progress Show and the second rung is found at Husker Harvest Days.

These shows set the pace for world-class farm events, and exhibitors know the ROI these venues deliver. Not an exhibitor? Now's the time to make your plans for 2020.
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WEEKLY COMMODITY HIGHLIGHTS

Nearby Futures	Weekly Change	Friday's Close	Year Ago
Corn	-0.0175	3.580	3.5100
Soybeans	-0.1375	8.570	8.3300
Wheat	-0.2400	4.5125	5.1850
Cattle	+5.125	59.050	107.00
Hogs	+4.225	63.525	50.425
Cotton	+1.08	59.05	82.31
Milk	+0.02	17.61	16.52
Crude Oil	+0.93	55.10	69.80

Grain and soybean futures were mostly lower on the week, pressured by technical selling, favorable Midwest weather and demand concerns. A surging U.S. dollar weighed on the complex late in the week. Wheat led the way lower, and Minneapolis spring wheat fell to a new 10-year low. Mostly mild temperatures and a mix of rain and sun have been helpful to corn and soybean crops that are nonetheless still very uncertain, and the lack of any looming early frost threat was a negative market factor. Meanwhile there were some encouraging signs regarding U.S.-China trade, as both sides indicated a willingness to meet in September, but nothing approaching a breakthrough. It looks as if the tariff war between the two countries will drag on for a significant time. Cotton futures were up on the week, but down on the month, the fourth consecutive monthly decline for the December contract. Some much-needed rain in West Texas, along with concerns about China cancelling exports, limited the market's upside. Crude oil futures were higher, underpinned by OPEC production cuts. Worries about the U.S. and global economy hang over the commodity complex as a whole.

In the livestock complex, lean hog futures surged on news of a trade deal with Japan and hopes of renewed trade talks between the U.S. and China. Futures climbed in volatile trade despite weakening cash hog and wholesale pork values. Several contracts posted their highest closes in a month. The cash market is in a traditional seasonal decline, and pork belly prices have collapsed on seasonally slowing demand. Live cattle surged along with lean hogs early in the week, but by Friday had given back their gains in most contracts except for the expiring August contract, amid pressure from weaker cash cattle prices. USDA said they would investigate the sharp rise in packer margins following a Tyson Foods plant fire in Kansas.

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