Global Ag News For Jan 29.2026

TOP HEADLINES

Tyson to pay $48 million to resolve price‑fixing claims by pork buyers

Tyson Foods has agreed to pay $48 million to settle a class action brought by U.S. food service companies that accused the meat industry giant of conspiring to restrict the supply of pork and fix prices.

The proposed settlement was filed on Tuesday in the federal court in Minnesota, and requires approval by U.S. District Judge John Tunheim.

The preliminary accord covers restaurants, delis and other food‑service operators that bought Tyson pork from other suppliers between 2014 and 2018. The plaintiffs include LongHorn Steakhouse and smaller businesses that purchased certain raw pork cuts or uncooked pork bacon in the United States.

Tyson’s settlement is the sixth overall and largest so far in the case. Smithfield in 2022 agreed to pay $42 million to resolve related claims against it, and JBS in 2021 said it would pay $12.7 million.

Tyson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Michael Flannery, a lead attorney for the commercial plaintiffs, said in a statement that the resolution “is another positive step in our ongoing effort to achieve a fair result for our clients.”

The plaintiffs alleged that Tyson and other defendants provided a consulting firm with detailed information about pricing, sales and other industry data that was used to manipulate prices. Tyson and the other settling defendants all denied wrongdoing.

Arkansas-based Tyson, the largest U.S. meat company, separately agreed last year to pay $85 million to settle a proposed consumer class action accusing it of conspiring with rivals to inflate pork prices.

The litigation is part of a broader set of cases accusing beef, turkey and chicken producers of fixing prices in their markets.

Tyson has settled some other related lawsuits. Earlier this month, the company agreed to pay $82.5 million to settle a proposed class action brought by grocers and other businesses that accused it of conspiring to inflate U.S. beef prices by restricting supply.

 

FUTURES & WEATHER

Wheat prices overnight are up 6 1/4 in SRW, up 4 1/2 in HRW, up 0 in HRS; Corn is up 2 1/2; Soybeans up 6 1/2; Soymeal up $1.20; Soyoil up 0.30.

For the week so far wheat prices are up 11 1/2 in SRW, up 5 1/4 in HRW, down 0 in HRS; Corn is up 1 1/4; Soybeans up 13 1/2; Soymeal down $1.00; Soyoil up 0.63.

For the month to date wheat prices are up 35 1/4 in SRW, up 32 in HRW, up 0 in HRS; Corn is down 7 3/4; Soybeans up 34; Soymeal down $0.40; Soyoil up 6.05.

Chinese Ag futures (MAR 26) Soybeans up 40 yuan; Soymeal up 21; Soyoil up 44; Palm oil up 74; Corn down 6 — Malaysian Palm is up 45.

Malaysian palm oil prices overnight were up 45 ringgit (+1.05%) at 4317.

There were changes in registrations (-6 HRW Wheat). Registration total: 34 SRW Wheat contracts; 120 Oats; 9 Corn; 446 Soybeans; 910 Soyoil; 163 Soymeal; 17 HRW Wheat.

Preliminary changes in futures Open Interest as of January 28 were: SRW Wheat up 4,552 contracts, HRW Wheat down 490, Corn up 20,796, Soybeans up 12,031, Soymeal down 866, Soyoil down 2,981.

 

DAILY WEATHER HEADLINES: 28 JANUARY 2026

• NORTH AMERICA: The next U.S. cold blast late the week will extend far southward, with subfreezing temperatures covering most of Florida as a downside risk to citrus crops
• SOUTH AMERICA: Southern Brazil will miss out on widespread Brazil rains to the north through the next 10 days, though rains could arrive thereafter to the aid of corn/soybeans
• SOUTHEAST ASIA: Divided, but near normal rainfall across the palm oil regions of Indonesia and Malaysia through the next couple weeks will be favorable for production
• AFRICA: Persistently wet conditions along the cocoa areas of West Africa will continue to elevate downside risks to the harvest into February
• TELECONNECTIONS: Very weak West Pacific trade winds have carried into the new year, supporting the end of La Niña and a potential El Niño trajectory if the trend holds

 

POCKETS OF HOT/DRY WEATHER WILL DEVELOP WITHIN SOUTH AMERICA OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS

• Weather Anomaly Severity: Moderate (regional heat/dryness risks)
• Crops impacted: corn, soybeans, coffee, sugar
• Preferred model for the next 5 days: GFS Op
• Preferred model for the 6-15 day timeframe: EC AIFS (warmest for Brazil)
• Forecast confidence: High through 5 days, lower after that with uncertainty about Brazil weather pattern.
• Model Change (from previous update): Wetter from Argentina into Southern Brazil, drier to the north.

  

Brazil: Central Brazil continues to see favorable rainfall for filling soybeans throughout the week, though harvest is increasing and the rain is becoming less helpful in that regard. South-central areas have been drier lately, which may be causing some stress, though showers are moving back in through the weekend. Soil moisture remains low for the coming safrinha corn crop though, which will be planted immediately after soybeans are harvested over the next few weeks.

Argentina: It has been very dry across the southern half of Argentina for quite some time, and spotty showers that moved through since the weekend have missed a lot of primary corn and soybean areas. And while a front should come through this weekend with additional showers, models are trending back to limited or no precipitation for the primary corn and soybean areas. Soil moisture and crop conditions are low and are expected to continue falling until the weather pattern becomes more active. Models are suggestive of some beneficial, though sporadic rainfall, in early February. Occasional high temperatures this week may add to the stresses as well.

Northern Plains: A burst of cold air moving down through the Dakotas will clash with warmer air trying to move into Montana and create a burst of snow across the middle of the region that could be moderate for Thursday and Friday. Another clipper moving through this weekend will flush out the cold air and bring in both a burst of mixed precipitation and warmer air that will stick around for most of next week.

Central/Southern Plains: Cold air will be reinforced by a couple of cold fronts through this weekend before temperatures eventually rise above normal next week to help melt off the snow. Some wheat areas with heavy snow cover should have some protection from the cold while other areas will see some damage. The cold will stress cattle for a while longer yet, as well.

Midwest: Clippers will continue to bring reinforcements of cold air throughout the week. There is not much wheat that is exposed with low snow cover, but there are some areas that may sustain some damage. A clipper moving through Sunday and Monday will usher in some warmer air for next week, but will take longer over areas with heavier snow cover across the south and east.

Delta: Recent heavy precipitation is helping to raise water levels on the Mississippi and local rivers. There are issues with infrastructure from the weekend’s big winter storm, and extremely cold air in the region could lead to issues with ice jams on local rivers.

 

The player sheet for 1/28 had funds: net buyers of 7,000 contracts of SRW wheat, buyers of 8,000 corn, buyers of 4,500 soybeans, buyers of 3,500 soymeal, and sellers of 1,000 soyoil.

 

TENDERS

• SOFT MILLING WHEAT, DURUM PURCHASE: Tunisia’s state grains agency is believed to have purchased about 100,000 metric tons of soft milling wheat and about 100,000 tons of durum in an international tender for the same volume on Wednesday, European traders said.
• WHEAT TENDER: Jordan’s state grain buyer issued an international tender to buy up to 120,000 metric tons of milling wheat which can be sourced from optional origins, European traders said. The deadline for submission of price offers in the tender is February 3.
• NO PURCHASE IN BARLEY TENDER: Jordan’s state grain buyer is believed to have made no purchase in an international tender for 120,000 metric tons of animal feed barley which closed on Wednesday, European traders said. A new tender for 120,000 tons of feed barley is expected to be issued by Jordan in coming days with anticipated submission of price offers on February 4, traders said.

PENDING TENDERS

• Jordan’s state grains buyer has issued an international tender to purchase up to 120,000 metric tons of animal feed barley, European traders said on Thursday. The deadline for the submission of price offers in the tender is February 4. Traders had expected an announcement after Jordan made no purchase in its previous tender for 120,000 tons of barley on Wednesday.

 

 

 

TODAY

GRAIN EXPORT SURVEY: Corn, Soy, Wheat Sales Before USDA Report

Estimate ranges are based on a Bloomberg survey of four analysts; the USDA is scheduled to release its export sales report on Thursday for week ending Jan. 22.

• Corn est. range 1,100k – 2,600k tons, with avg of 1,738k
• Soybean est. range 400k – 2,200k tons, with avg of 1,113k

 

DOE: US Ethanol Stocks Fall 1.3% to 25.4M Bbl

According to the US Department of Energy’s weekly petroleum report.

• Analysts were expecting 25.835 mln bbl
• Plant production at 1.114m b/d, compared to survey avg of 1.079m

 

China suspends Irish beef imports two weeks after market reopened

China has suspended imports of Irish beef due to an outbreak of bluetongue disease in cattle, just two weeks after it reopened its market for Irish beef for the first time in more than a year, Ireland’s agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

Ireland reported its first outbreak of the disease in a herd in the southeast of the country on Saturday and was informed by the Chinese authorities that they had suspended Irish beef imports from Tuesday, the ministry said.

The virus has since been detected in three additional herds near the initial outbreak.

China reopened its market to Irish beef imports on Jan. 12 during a visit by Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin to Beijing, dropping a 2024 suspension that followed the discovery of a case of mad cow disease.

“This is disappointing news in light of the recent reopening of the market,” Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon said in a statement, adding that his department was engaging with Chinese authorities to resolve the suspension in a timely manner.

Bluetongue, which does not affect humans or the safety of animal meat or milk, has been reported in several parts of Europe in recent months, including Northern Ireland.

Ireland exports the bulk of its output from the beef and dairy industries, which are major employers in the country.

Heydon said on Saturday that there were no implications for meat and dairy exports to the European Union, Britain and most other international markets as a result of the outbreak.

 

 

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