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• GRAINS-Wheat jumps on short-covering; corn, soy also climb Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 2:03 PM ET

  *Corn and soybeans firm, led by new-crop contracts. Corn and soybeans also advanced, led by new-crop contracts as forecasts for hit and dry weather later this month raised concerns about potential crop stress.

• UPDATE 1-China ships Ukraine grain under loan/export programme Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 12:32 PM ET

  *Ukraine uses Chinese loan to buy grain for exports. *Ukraine firm sees high flour exports to Middle East. KIEV, June 19- A Chinese state company has started a programme of purchasing grain from Ukraine's state-run grain corporation for export to clients in China, the Middle East and markets further afield, the Ukrainian chief executive said on Wednesday.

• La. cotton planting sets 2nd straight record low Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 10:11 AM ET

  NEW ORLEANS-- For the second year in a row, Louisiana farmers have planted fewer acres of cotton than ever recorded. Farmers are switching to soybeans and corn because prices are better and the crops are less expensive to grow, said LSU AgCenter cotton specialist David Kerns.

• Beetles, housefly larvae open new frontier in animal feed sector Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 10:00 AM ET

  PARIS, June 19- French start-up company Ynsect has identified a cheap, nourishing and locally sourced alternative to soybeans as a vital source of protein in animal feed.

• COLUMN-Thailand's rice scheme cutback doesn't go far enough: Clyde Russell Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 2:46 AM ET

  Thailand has piled up about 17 million tonnes of milled rice since the scheme started in October 2011, and with warehouses filled to brim it's running out of space for the next crop that will start arriving in November this year.

• GRAINS-Corn ends higher, led by new-crop contracts on US weather Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 4:48 PM ET

  The thought of any high-pressure ridge- the market is very sensitive to that right now, after what happened last year, "said Sterling Smith, futures specialist with Citigroup in Chicago, alluding to the historic Midwest drought that slashed corn yields in 2012. Soybeans ended mixed, with back months gaining against the nearby July contract, and wheat firmed on bargain-buying following recent declines.

• Move Over Peanut Butter! Hummus Is Spreading Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 3:01 PM ET

  

  Hummus sales are booming, and Sabra is on a quest to convince Americans to eat even more. Is it the next peanut butter?

• GRAINS-Soybeans higher on tight U.S. supplies; corn, wheat firm Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 12:37 PM ET

  *Wheat firm on rain delays but world supplies cap gains. At the Chicago Board of Trade at 11:05 a.m. CDT, July soybeans were up 8-1/ 2 cents at $15.21 per bushel. The contract extended its premium over new-crop November soybeans, which rose 4 cents to $12.89- 1/ 2. Some soy processors in Iowa raised their cash bids for soybeans by 15 to 20 cents per bushel on Tuesday.

• Nebraska corn, soybeans progressing near average Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 10:03 AM ET

  LINCOLN, Neb.-- The Nebraska corn crop is faring far better than some other states including neighboring Iowa with 75 percent of the crop in good or excellent condition. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop report released Monday that Nebraska's corn is 100 percent emerged in line with the normal average.

• Warmer, drier weather helps N. Dakota farmers Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 9:51 AM ET

  BISMARCK, N.D.-- Warmer and drier weather across North Dakota last week allowed farmers to get the last of their crops planted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop report that there were 5 days suitable for fieldwork on average last week. Spring wheat seeding is rated just 86 percent complete, trailing last year's 100 percent average.

• Iowa corn crop continues to lag in stormy spring Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 9:48 AM ET

  DES MOINES, Iowa-- The latest crop report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows Iowa's cornfields have been hit hard by the wet spring. Twelve percent of the crop is in poor condition, worse among the 18 leading corn growing states.

• GRAINS-Wheat firm as slow harvest pace draws bargain buyers Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 7:50 AM ET

  *Soybeans firm as USDA confirms continued planting delays. PARIS/ SYDNEY, June 18- Chicago wheat futures rose on Tuesday as rain, which hampered harvesting and sowing in the United States, encouraged buyers to return after a two-month low at the end of last week.

• White House threatens to veto farm bill over food stamp cuts Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 8:44 PM ET

  WASHINGTON, June 17- The White House threatened to veto a five-year farm bill on Thursday because of "unacceptable deep cuts" in food stamps for the poor that could increase hunger across America.

• UPDATE 3-Big investor urges Smithfield breakup over buyout Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 1:03 PM ET

  *Starboard: Selling pieces could net $44- $55/ shr. June 17- Starboard Value LP revealed a major stake in Smithfield Foods Inc on Monday and urged the world's largest pork producer to explore a breakup rather than go ahead with a planned $4.7 billion takeover by Chinese meat company Shuanghui International.

• Cane investments, protected prices prolong sugar surplus Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 12:11 PM ET

  LONDON, June 17- Sugar production looks set to remain stubbornly above demand for at least another 12 months, despite a halving in global prices, as mills in top exporter Brazil are forced to keep supplies flowing to recoup massive investments. No, "said Pierre Sebag of London- based consultancy Sugar K Ltd..

• UPDATE 2-Argentine grain sales strike may slow much-needed corn exports Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 11:48 AM ET

  *Grains truck inflow to Argentine ports falls dramatically. BUENOS AIRES, June 17- The number of grain trucks entering Argentina's main shipping hub of Rosario dropped sharply on Monday as farmers protested government policies by refusing to sell recently harvested corn and soybeans. Argentina is the world's No. 3 exporter of both crops at a time of high demand.

• UPDATE 1-Argentine farm sales strike may curb much-needed corn exports Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 10:34 AM ET

  BUENOS AIRES, June 17- The flow of grain trucks entering Argentina's main shipping hub of Rosario fell sharply on Monday as farmers protested government policies by refusing to sell recently harvested corn and soybeans. Argentina is the world's No. 3 exporter of both crops at a time of high demand.

• Argentine farm sales strike may curb much-needed corn exports Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 8:42 AM ET

  Truck flow into Argentina's main grain port of Rosario was slower than usual, due to lack of selling by farmers. The strike will continue until Wednesday night at midnight, Julio Curras, vice president of the Argentine Agrarian Federation, said on Saturday, when the protest officially started.

• Colombia's long-elusive goal: land reform Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 7:11 AM ET

  MORROA, Colombia-- Caught in the crossfire between far-right militias and leftist rebels, 40 families abandoned the farm they shared in the foothills of Colombia's Montes de Maria range.

• Asia wheat buyers fret even as US says gene-altered strain isolated Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 3:32 AM ET

  *Japan says no change in stance on U.S. wheat. SEOUL/ TOKYO, June 17- Asian wheat buyers remain concerned U.S. imports could be tainted with genetically modified wheat even as U.S. government findings showed the discovery of an unapproved GMO strain in Oregon appeared to be an isolated incident.