Grain markets stay tense under tariffs

Grain markets remain edgy, shadowing tariff headlines and observing the weather.

Volatile markets are stoking fears the nation is on the cusp of a recession, Don Roose of U.S. Commodities said.

Recession fears are the consequence of the Trump administration’s political and economic policies, Jack Scoville of The Price Futures Group said said.

“The consumer confidence is waning and could become a source of real harm to the economy,” he said.

And weather changes are keeping market watchers attention, too.

“Growing conditions are dry around the world and in the U.S. Great Plains, and winter wheat crops are emerging from dormancy,” Scoville said. “This could be a supportive factor, but overall demand has been weak, so the lack of rain hurting production potential is less of an issue for the trade.”

Grain markets were led on St. Patrick’s Day by wheat contracts as a dry situation is developing across the U.S. Plains, Aaron Huebner of CHS Hedging said.