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GRAINS-Chicago soya beans rise at biofuel coalition meeting

GRAINS-Chicago soya beans rise at biofuel coalition meeting

Chicago soybean futures rose Tuesday, ahead of a discussion between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a coalition representing oil and biofuels groups to raise federal mandates on biomass diesel blends.

Analysts say that corn futures gained support due to wet forecasts for the U.S. Delta, Ohio Valley and Midwest, while wheat futures grew on the back of reduced acreage, as reported in a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report on Monday.

The Chicago Board of Trade's most active soybean contract settled at $10.34-1/4, its highest level since March 6, and CBOT corn finished up 4-1/2cents at $4.61-3/4, while wheat rose 3-1/2 cents to $5.40-1/2 per bushel.

Jim McCormick of AgMarket.net, a founding partner, stated that the news that a newly-formed coalition of oil groups and biofuel groups including the American Petroleum Institute was meeting with EPA representatives on Tuesday drove soybean oil futures higher on Tuesday.

The coalition wants to see biomass diesel blend mandates raised from 5.5 billion up to 5.75 billion. McCormick said that the new mandate would represent a dramatic increase from the current 3,55 billion.

McCormick said that the forecast of heavy rains in the U.S. Delta region and Ohio River Valley will also support corn production.

He said, "It isn't a big problem yet but we won't be planting very quickly in that part of the country."

The futures for wheat continued to rise as a result of the USDA's release on Monday of prospective planting data. The USDA's planting forecast for 2025 showed that the U.S. area of wheat would be lower than analyst expectations.

McCormick reports that the grain markets are still bracing themselves for President Donald Trump to announce tariffs on 2 April. This prospect continues to raise concerns about retaliation by other countries against U.S. agricultural exports. Renee Hickman reported from Chicago. Reporting in Paris by Gus Trompiz, and Ella Cao, Mei Mei Chu and Mei Mei Chu from Beijing. Editing by Aurora Ellis.

(source: Reuters)