US tariffs send corn, soybean prices on roller coaster ride

Markets saw prices for corn and soybeans plunge and then more than rebound in the space of a few days last week — moves University of Missouri economist Bob Maltsbarger said were almost entirely tied to on-again, off-again tariff policies in the U.S.

Increased demand, especially for corn, should prompt farmers to plant more acreage this spring and, in the long term, trigger downward pressure on prices for both commodities, Maltsbarger said. Even so, markets saw soybean prices plummet from US$10.33 per bushel on April 1 to US$9.77 by April 4, and then rocket back up to US$10.44 by April 11. Corn initially dropped just two cents to US$4.58 on April 2, but jumped to US$4.89 on April 11.