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Brazil’s corn export routes diversify with flows from northern ports: New Key Port Differentials
Corn is the country’s second-largest crop, behind soybeans, but output has nearly tripled in the last two decades
Video - 25/01/07Agriculture market outlook: Game changers to come in 2025 and 2026
Watch this video to know more about the key drivers to watch out for in the grains and oilseeds markets
Podcast - 24/12/19Back from the fields: Romania wheat crop tour – December 2024
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US Fed keeps rate unchanged, signals 2 cuts this year
US Fed keeps rate unchanged, signals 2 cuts this year
Houston, 19 March (Argus) — Federal Reserve policymakers held their target interest rate unchanged today in their second meeting of 2025, and signaled two quarter-point cuts are still likely this year. The Fed's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25-4.50pc. This mirrored the decision made at the last FOMC meeting at the end of January, which followed cutting the rate by 100 basis points in the last three meetings of 2024, which were the first cuts since 2020. In December last year, the Fed penciled-in 50 basis points worth of cuts for 2025, down from 100 basis points projected in the September median economic projections of Fed board members and Fed bank presidents. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Early signs of trouble for US winter wheat
Early signs of trouble for US winter wheat
St Louis, 17 March (Argus) — Drought conditions, above average temperatures and high winds are reducing the outlook for US winter wheat through the southern and central plains regions. Crop conditions for key US winter wheat producing states were mixed at the end of February 2025. In Oklahoma and Texas, two states that account for approximately 20pc of total US winter wheat acres, the percentages of the crop rated in good-to excellent condition were down 12 and 35 percentage points, respectively, from a year before, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. Colorado and Montana, which account for about 14pc of US winter wheat acres, saw the crops good-to-excellent ratio increase 11 and 22 percentage points from the prior year, respectively. Kansas, the largest winter wheat state by acreage, saw the crops good-to-excellent ratio reach 54pc, down slightly from the prior year's level, because of developing drought conditions. Since the USDA's last crop condition update, drought conditions in Kansas have continued to intensify with precipitation totals for central and western parts of the state at 5pc or less of the historical average during the 30-day period ending 16 March, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data. In addition to increasing drought, above average temperatures have resulted in the states hard red winter wheat crop breaking dormancy by as much as a month ahead of normal, according to market sources, increasing the risk that future weather events could cause significant damage. NOAA forecasts Kansas will receive limited snow accumulation and winds in excess of 70 miles per hour over the week ahead, the combination of which could result in significant damage to the crop as it breaks dormancy. The USDA will provide the next US state winter wheat crop conditions update at the start of April. The report's data could prove supportive for US wheat prices if it indicates substantial damage has occurred to US winter wheat acres. By Ryan Koory Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's Mato Grosso corn sowing nearly finished
Brazil's Mato Grosso corn sowing nearly finished
Sao Paulo, 17 March (Argus) — The 2024-25 winter corn planting reached nearly 99.5pc of the expected area in Brazil's central-western Mato Grosso state, which is roughly in line with the total sowed a year prior. That is the first time this season's progress is ahead on the year, following a delayed start this cycle and quick 2023-24 planting. Works advanced by 3 percentage points in the week ended 14 March, according to regional agricultural institute Imea. The five-year average for this time of the year is of 96.9pc completion. Soybean The 2024-25 soybean crop is 97.3pc harvested as of 14 March, an advancement of 5.5 percentage points on the week. That is ahead of the 95.6pc harvested at this time a year ago for the 2023-24 crop and above a five-year average of 93.2pc. Cotton Mato Grosso completed the 2024-25 cotton sowing as of 28 February, but harvesting is yet to begin. Activities usually start around mid-June, according to Imea. By Nathalia Giannetti Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Argentina’s Bahia Blanca region faces more storms
Argentina’s Bahia Blanca region faces more storms
Sao Paulo, 17 March (Argus) — The Argentine city of Bahia Blanca was bracing Monday for more stormy weather, 10 days after a deluge that resulted in a reported 16 deaths, flooded fields in agricultural areas and shut down operations at the city's port. Much of the area around Bahia Blanca already had excessive soil moisture levels following the storm on 7 March, with localized flooding of corn, soybean and sunflower fields, Argentina's economy ministry reported last week. The southern part of Buenos Aires province also produces wheat and barley, among other crops. Bahia Blanca's port is an exporting facility for those crops. Operations at the port shut down due to a loss of power supply and other effects of the storm on 7 March, the port authority reported. Operations at the port have resumed with little damage to its terminals and other facilities, though roads and railways leading to the port suffered heavy damage, news site Argenports.com reported last week. Scattered storms with rainfall between 0.8 inch and 1.6 inches, or more in some areas, in a short period of time are expected in a wide area in the south of Buenos Aires province, the country's National Meteorological Service reported. The downpours will be accompanied by gusts of wind approaching 50 miles per hour (80 km/hr) and hail, the Service said. The area around Bahia Blanca and parts of the towns of Saavedra, Tornquist and Coronel Pringles and other municipalities in the south of the province are the subject of the alert. The 7 March storm left 16 people dead and dumped about 12 inches of rain on the city and surrounding areas in just eight hours, according to local news reports. By Jeffrey T. Lewis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
