Grain futures moved higher while cattle futures eased in the March 25 close, according to market reports from Brownfield Ag News. For Montana producers, that mix matters: stronger corn and soy values can ripple into feed and supplement costs, while softer live and feeder cattle futures can influence calf price expectations and risk management decisions. […]
Wednesday’s board trade offered a mixed signal for Montana producers: grain futures pushed higher while cattle contracts eased. Reports from national market coverage indicate May corn closed around $4.67 1/4 (up 4 3/4 cents), May soybeans near $11.71 3/4 (up 16 3/4), and May Chicago wheat about $5.97 3/4 (up 7 3/4). On the livestock […]
Independent restaurant owners and chefs are stepping into the farm bill debate, urging Congress to move a bill that helps farms and ranches handle weather, market volatility, and supply-chain disruptions. Reports indicate groups tied to the restaurant industry say their businesses depend on reliable domestic production—and that production depends on policies that keep farmers viable […]
Grain markets headed in different directions in the latest afternoon trade, with reports indicating corn found a lift tied to strength in the energy complex while soybeans drifted lower. That kind of split matters in Montana because corn and soybean markets don’t just affect row-crop country—they ripple into feed costs, freight, basis, and ultimately what […]
Grain markets sent mixed signals in afternoon trade, with corn showing more resilience while soybeans drifted lower. Reports indicate corn drew support from strength in the energy complex, while soybeans didn’t keep pace. For Montana producers, the day-to-day moves matter less than the direction they point: feed inputs, basis levels, and the timing of marketing […]
Grain and livestock futures finished mixed on Tuesday, March 24, with cattle contracts generally higher while soybeans and soybean meal weakened. Reports indicate May corn settled around $4.62 1/2 (up about 3 cents), May soybeans near $11.55 (down about 8 1/2 cents), and Chicago wheat around $5.90 (up roughly 2 1/4 cents). On the livestock […]
Grain futures sent mixed signals this week: wheat and corn posted modest gains while soybeans moved lower as traders took profits and responded to chart-based selling. Reports indicate attention remains fixed on South American production—Brazil’s harvest pace and Argentina’s crop development—along with ongoing uncertainty around the timing of any high-level U.S.-China trade discussions. For Montana, […]
Wildfires in the central Plains are adding a new layer of uncertainty to a cattle industry that was already trying to rebuild herds under dry conditions. Reports from the region indicate pasture losses, damaged fencing and water infrastructure, and short-term displacement of cattle. While the fires were not in Montana, the ripple effects can reach […]
Grain markets are heading into another high-volatility stretch, and that matters in Montana even if you don’t raise an acre of corn or soybeans. Reports indicate recent strength in corn and soybean futures has been tied to energy markets and global uncertainty, and traders are now squaring up positions ahead of major USDA updates that […]
Overnight trade in the major commodity markets leaned lower, with reports indicating corn and wheat futures softened while crude oil also slipped. That combination matters in Montana because it can tug on everything from local cash bids at elevators to diesel costs, freight, and ultimately cattle feeding margins. None of this is a guarantee of […]