Grocery inflation will stay low (USDA): In its first forecast of next year’s food costs, the Economic Research Service said grocery prices would rise by just 1 percent, making 2020 “potentially the fifth year in a row with deflating or lower-than-average inflating retail food prices.”
Modest growth for global grain (IGC): Although bad weather in the Northern Hemisphere took a bit of the shine off this year’s grain crops, world output, paced by a record wheat crop and the second-largest corn crop, will still be modestly larger than last year.
Dicamba complaints rise (DTN/Progressive Farmer): The issue of non-target dicamba damage is drawing notice beyond the agricultural community as officials in four major farm states have received nearly 190 complaints of damage from the weedkiller to neighboring crops and plants.
Spring wheat yields below average (Reuters): Scouts on the annual spring wheat tour projected an average yield of 43.1 bushels an acre for the hard red spring wheat crop, a below-average yield for a crop that was planted late due to a cold and rainy spring.
Marubeni to sell China soy unit (AgriCensus): Commodities giant Marubeni, based in Japan, said it will sell its soybean trading operation in China by March 2020.