Iran

The University of Illinois says the ag sector is closely watching the fertilizer markets this week because of the ongoing war in the Middle East.  Following months of tight supplies, global nitrogen values started rising last week.   ...

House Republicans may try to attach several bills to a must-pass funding measure needed by month’s end to avert a government shutdown.  Among those is a ban on foreign adversaries owning U.S. farmland.  The ban on China and other foreign adversaries owning U.S. farmland, especially n...

The bipartisan Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security, or PASS Act was recently introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate.  Supporters of the legislation say it will protect U.S. national security by preventing foreign adversaries from taking any ownership or control of agricultural land and businesses in the United States.  The bil...

A strong showing so far from Team USA at this year's World Cup at Qatar.  Not only did the men defeat Iran Tuesday to advance to the round of 16, but last week, Team USA recorded their first shutout against a European team in the World Cup since 1950 when they held England to a 0-0 tie.  But the...

Farm state Senators have joined House colleagues in trying to crack down on foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.  In June, House appropriators included a ban on Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran owning U.S. farmland in their annual USDA spending bill.  Cu...

On Thursday, Dan Newhouse introduced an amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies FY2023 Appropriations Bill prohibiting the purchase of agricultural land in the U.S. by companies owned, in full or in part, by the People’s Republic of China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran. “...

International grain buyers are looking for different places to buy wheat and corn as a Russian invasion cut off Ukrainian supplies. Reuters said European Union producers like Romania and France are being used to cover some nearby shipments ...

Despite Congress approving USMCA and sending it to President Trump for his signature, and despite the U.S. and China signing the Phase One trade agreement last week, oil investors remain unimpressed.  Patrick DeHaan with GasBuddy.com said oil prices were trading the holiday Monday around $58 per barrel, down considerably from the prices reported last week.  Th...

As we wrap up 2019, oil prices are doing so fairly quietly.  West Texas Crude was trading roughly 1.5% lower Tuesday morning at the $60 per barrel mark.   International issues continue to be the main driver of oil prices, including the ongoing trade war with China, tension with Iran, and now a new issue in the Middle East; the recent announcement that Saudi Arabia and neighboring Kuwait have agree

Oil prices have started this week fairly quiet, which is in stark contrast to the volatility was saw last week.  Patrick DeHaan with GasBuddy.com says this volatility, which is a typical for 2019, was due to uncertainty with China.   “When there was pessimism last week, some doubts over the past week over the trade deal, that’s when oil prices declined to $55 before rebounding back up on optimism