BY TYLER DURDEN
Last year was a bad year for corn — the latest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report shows drought conditions and extreme weather wreaked havoc on croplands.
USDA unexpectedly slashed its outlook for domestic corn production amid a severe drought across the western farm belt. Farmers in Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas were forced to abandon drought-plagued fields.
The agency estimated farmers harvested 79.2 million acres, a decline of 1.6 million acres versus the previous estimate — the smallest acres harvest since 2008.
The unexpected cut to US harvested corn acres means grain supplies are a lot tighter than realized. A report Thursday showed the corn area in the world's largest producer is at the smallest since 2008 with crops failing in states such as Texas and Nebraska. That's due to persistent drought conditions in the western part of the country that could also hit harvests for wheat plants that are currently dormant for the winter. -- Bloomberg
The crop-failed lands reduced total harvest corn acreage to levels not seen since 2008. ........more below
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran has not held talks with the United States, and fake news is being used to manipulate markets, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Monday.
"No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," the parliament speaker said on X.
Earlier in the day, Trump said that the United States and Iran had very positive and productive talks over the past two days and announced the postponement of US strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. The president also expressed hope that the progress will be achieved within five days, a CNBC journalist reported after an interview with the president.
Iran has warned international investors and financial institutions, stating that entities financing the United States' military apparatus are now considered legitimate targets in the ongoing resistance against American and Israeli aggression.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized Iran's resolve to defend its sovereignty and people against continued US aggression, which has resulted in immense suffering for Iranians through sanctions, covert operations, and wars.
"Alongside military bases, those financial entities that finance the US military budget are legitimate targets," the Parliament Speaker stated.
He condemned US Treasury bonds as instruments "soaked in Iranians' blood," saying that purchasing or holding such bonds equates to directly supporting attacks on Iranian lives and territory.
"Purchase them, and you purchase a strike on your HQ and assets," he warned.
Ghalibaf underscored Iran's ...
In response to threats by US President Donald Trump about hitting Iran’s power plants, the Intelligence Service of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says critical technology centers beyond the region will be targeted within 48 hours.
The Intelligence Service said in a post on X on Sunday that since February 28, Iran’s armed forces have managed to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the United States to evacuate its bases in the region, and damage and destroy technological centers of the Israeli regime.
From now on, the Service stated, Iran’s armed forces also have an eye on extra-regional technological and political targets associated with the Islamic Republic’s enemies.
Trump yesterday threatened that Iran’s power infrastructure would be bombed if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened within 48 hours.
Iran has declared that the strategic waterway is open to those who do not stand on the side of the Islamic Republic’s enemies. It has also warned of extra-regional ...
