Bottom line: Corn remains a highly volatile market, awaiting the next significant fear driver to fuel a price move out of this stagnant trading range. We won t have a definitive answer on acreage for almost another month, meaning bulls should be able to rely on acreage fears for support for awhile. Weather hasn t been a big factor this early in the season for beans just going into the ground, but demand is a great place to lay the ground work for price support. Corn traders aren t assuming...

RALEIGH Democratic presidential prospect John Edwards is throwing his weight behind labor activists who are trying to pressure the worlds largest hog slaughterhouse into recognizing a union without an employee vote. Smithfield executives have said they would support a secret-ballot vote, but union leaders argue the company wont allow a fair election. He also joined in labors call for card-check neutrality, which would allow labor groups to certify their standing as soon as they get the...

Higher corn prices impact companies throughout the meat industry, including those with heavy positions in pork and beef production, such as Tyson, Smithfield and Hormel Foods. Some estimates have corn prices rising as high as $3 to $4 a bushel this year, eclipsing a record set more than a decade ago. One way chicken producers have boosted prices is by cutting production and bringing the supply-demand equation into better balance. Even when something happens half a world away, like an...

exports of both commodities, the unheralded heroes are the countries closest to the U. But rebuilding Asian demand for beef remains a work in progress. Feature Programs & Commentary. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) convention in San Diego got their semi-annual update on foreign market opportunities for red meat this week. And while much attention has been focused on regaining market share in Asia for U. Asia has been a strong market for U. And Erpelding said when it comes to U.

Purdue ag economist Chris Hurt says while export demand will continue, the marketing margin benefit may not last, and pork profitability will be challenged to remain in the black over the next 12 months. Hurt says prices should be strong through August, based on the futures market, but may drop into the fall period. With high prices for corn and soybean meal, profitability will be challenged in the coming months. Hurt: Pork Margins Stay in the Black Thursday, May 24, 2007 There has been...