As Hurricane Florence bore down on the Carolinas, millions were at risk from wind, storm surge, and flooding, causing many to seek higher ground. Meanwhile, North Carolina hog farmers faced a unique challenge: keeping nearly 9 million hogs safe. North Carolina is the United States’ second-largest hog producer, making about 15% of U.S. pork. Some farmers are moving the animals to higher ground, while others are preparing for power outages and shortages of grain to feed the hogs...

Hog prices exploded to a two-month high on Friday as markets assessed a new threat: an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China. The highly contagious and fatal disease has been found on 18 farms across six provinces in China, the world’s largest hog producer and consumer. While the disease doesn’t affect humans, the impact could be monumental on the global food supply...

After a brief rally, hog prices ended on the chopping block again, falling to a 20-month low near 50 cents per pound. Prices are tumbling as U.S. trade delegations have failed to make headway with China and Mexico, the two largest buyers of U.S. pork. Earlier this year, both nations imposed tariffs against U.S. goods in response to a series of tariffs levied by President Trump...

Gasoline prices plummeted to a four-month low this week as U.S. refineries ran at a near-record pace. This is helping to boost gasoline supplies even as drivers hit the road for the final weeks of the summer driving season. Gasoline inventories usually are running on empty by the end of the summer, but stockpiles are huge for this time of year...

U.S. farmers finally got some good news this week, lifting their spirits and prices after months of dismal news. On Tuesday, President Trump announced that he was invoking a Depression-era program to help bail out farmers hurt by the trade disputes with buyers of U.S. agricultural products. The bailout, which could cost up to $12 billion, is expected to be a one-time support, although details of the package won’t be known for months...

The United States is poised to become the world’s largest oil producer next year, overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia to seize the top spot. Domestic oil production has doubled over the last decade as new drilling technologies, like fracking, have allowed U.S. producers to profitably pump from far-flung oil fields, spanning from Ohio to New Mexico, turning the United States into a major exporter...

After months of posturing, the first cannonballs in the trade war between the U.S. and China were fired on Friday morning, as each nation officially imposed $34 billion in tariffs on one another’s exports...

Metals markets fell this week as global fears continued about trade disputes, economic slowdowns, and rising interest rates, all of which could hurt demand, but the platinum market was especially hard-hit, with prices tumbling to a two-year low near $850 per ounce...

The U.S. soybean crop continues to look exceptional, and there are few weather problems expected that could derail a near-record sized crop. However, dark clouds are forming over the market as trade disputes deepen between the U.S. and our two biggest soybean buyers, Mexico and China...

Hog futures are nearing a one-year high, trading Friday for over 80 cents per pound. Prices are exploding as short-term supplies run low as meatpackers buy hogs ahead of the grilling season and Father’s Day. Upcoming hot weather will also put stress on hogs, which will cause the animals to have trouble gaining weight, further limiting supplies of meat. As a result, hog prices have risen by more than 10% over the last two weeks...

Markets showed a steely resolve in the face of looming trade disputes with our greatest trading partners...

On Thursday, President Trump announced that he was cancelling the upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This withdrawal was a response to North Korean complaints and threats, which President Trump met with a strong and measured response, “You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.”...

Corn prices for this fall’s harvest continue to trade for $4.20 per bushel, near a two-year high. Prices are being supported by drought and crop shortfalls in China, Brazil, and Argentina. While the United States is the king of corn production, these countries are next in line, and together account for almost a third of global supply...

President Trump announced on Tuesday that the U.S. was withdrawing from the multilateral nuclear accord between the U.S., Iran, Russia, China, and European allies, maintaining a campaign promise. He also announced that his administration would impose harsh sanctions on Iran, which could affect European companies who have invested heavily in Iranian businesses...

Oil prices pushed over a three-year high on Friday as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to ratchet higher. Markets are increasingly expecting President Trump to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration...

Your morning fix of java and sweetener just got cheaper, thanks to rising production around the world. Coffee and sugar prices fell near 2 ½ year lows this week as the markets adjust to oversupply...

Crude oil prices exploded to the highest price since 2014, gushing to $67.76 per barrel on Friday morning. The primary fuel for this rally was the rising tension in the Middle East as President Trump considers military intervention in Syria...

U.S. farmers are cutting back on corn and soybean acreage this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Prospective Plantings report. Disappointed by low prices, farmers are projected to reduce corn acreage by almost 2 million acres and soybeans by over 3 million acres, a move that could reduce production by almost 3% for those crops...

On Thursday, President Trump announced a slew of potential actions against China, including tariffs on $60 billion in Chinese imports. The White House is hoping to use these threats to bolster negotiations surrounding trade, U.S. businesses in China, and technology transfers...

After climbing to seven-month highs earlier this month, wheat prices have crumbled by nearly 10%. The market had exploded higher on drought concerns in the Great Plains, where much of the American wheat crop is grown...