Drought Engulfs 60% Of U.S. As Farmers Begin Spring Planting A massive drought has emerged across large swaths of the US agricultural belt, threatening crops and livestock and eventually affecting food prices, at a time when fertilizer and diesel costs are soaring . As of early April, 60% of the Lower 48 is in drought as the Northern Hemisphere growing season begins and farmers begin plantings, ac...
Drought Engulfs 60% Of U.S. As Farmers Begin Spring Planting A massive drought has emerged across large swaths of the US agricultural belt, threatening crops and livestock and eventually affecting food prices, at a time when fertilizer and diesel costs are soaring . As of early April, 60% of the Lower 48 is in drought as the Northern Hemisphere growing season begins and farmers begin plantings, according to NOAA . The southern US is already experiencing severe, extreme, and even exceptional drought conditions, putting pressure on key crops such as sugarcane, rice, and peanuts, while fruit trees have also been damaged by extreme temperatures. Across the Great Plains, otherwise known as the nation’s breadbasket, winter wheat farmers are being forced to decide whether to keep the struggling crop or cut losses and replant, with dry soil also making germination harder. The drought also complicates matters for ranchers, as the nation's cattle herd is already at its lowest level since the 1950s. As a result, some ranches may further reduce their herds, which will only push beef prices to new record highs. In the western US, the problem is not so much rainfall as shrinking mountain snowpack, which threatens irrigation supplies ahead of the growing season. Water-use cutbacks for agricultural purposes are already being discussed or imposed in places such as Washington’s Yakima Basin and along the Colorado River. Related: Meteorologists Warn About Super El Nino Event Washington, D.C. Will Feel Like June. Cue MSM Climate Doom Propaganda X user Tony Heller noted, "The US is facing a drought possibly similar to the drought of 1610, which wiped out the Jamestown Colonists." The US is facing a drought possibly similar to the drought of 1610, which wiped out the Jamestown Colonists. https://t.co/3Iz9DZwLZv pic.twitter.com/8dyGFhaa0m — Tony Heller 🇺🇸 🇯🇵 (@TonyClimate) April 13, 2026 All bad news for food prices. Traders are piling into these agri ETFs: "Why The Fertilizer Crisis May ...
(RTTNews) - The Hong Kong stock market has moved higher in three consecutive trading days, collecting almost 750 points or 3 percent along the way. The Hang Seng Index now rests just beneath the 26,400-point plateau and it may see additional support on Friday.
(RTTNews) - The Hong Kong stock market has moved higher in three consecutive trading days, collecting almost 750 points or 3 percent along the way. The Hang Seng Index now rests just beneath the 26,400-point plateau and it may see additional support on Friday.
Former SAS soldier charged with five counts of war crime murder to learn whether he will be be released from Silverwater prison Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Ben Roberts-Smith was planning to move overseas – and had not told authorities investigating him – when he was arrested at Sydney airport last week, a Sydne...
Former SAS soldier charged with five counts of war crime murder to learn whether he will be be released from Silverwater prison Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Ben Roberts-Smith was planning to move overseas – and had not told authorities investigating him – when he was arrested at Sydney airport last week, a Sydney court has heard. Roberts-Smith made a bail application before Judge Greg Grogin in Downing Centre local court Friday morning. Continue reading...
Getty Images By Elior Manier The pricing of a peace deal between the US and Iran is continuous but also quite coarse. While equity markets have gone on an absolute frantic rally , boosted by short-covering, options delta hedging, TACOs, and an ever-hungrier investor, commodities are subject to very different dynamics. Particularly when it comes to energy products, supply and demand play their own ...
Getty Images By Elior Manier The pricing of a peace deal between the US and Iran is continuous but also quite coarse. While equity markets have gone on an absolute frantic rally , boosted by short-covering, options delta hedging, TACOs, and an ever-hungrier investor, commodities are subject to very different dynamics. Particularly when it comes to energy products, supply and demand play their own very influential role. While futures pricing helps to dictate expectations, traders have to remember that, before anything else, real products are needed for production, consumption, and much more around the world – hence, physical demand has an immense influence on prices. A major narrative that has emerged throughout the war is the large difference between physical and futures pricing, which has raised questions about a disconnect between market pricing and the real-life issues faced by large buyers. WTI Futures Backwardation from April 15, 2026 – Source: CMEGroup The futures market has been in a large backwardation (where front contracts trade well above later contracts). A natural formation amid supply fears, but no less damaging for hedgers. Add to this gigantic regional discrepancies in barrel prices, particularly in Asia, and you get a market pulled higher by relentless demand while supply remains in a large drought. This has created another wave of rallying throughout the session, with selloffs remaining supported by fresher bids. As long as Hormuz remains closed, a grind higher on pullbacks in oil remains the path of least resistance. Meanwhile, US-Iran talks that were supposed to start again today are finally set to only start throughout the weekend . This did come with its fair share of good news, with Israel and Lebanon agreeing to a ceasefire , a final step before the discussions. Gulf Oil Delivery Issues since End-February. Source: IEA With these factors in mind, let's dive right into an intraday outlook for both WTI and Brent Oil, highlighting their technical...