‘Mayhem’ in the global commodities markets: farm crisis, soft options and oof! 

What the experts are saying about the rapid spike and fall in market prices

John Deere: shares have shot up
John Deere: shares have shot up
(Image credit: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Farm crisis

In the weeks since the Russian invasion, the West Midlands dairy farmer Ed Hemming has slaughtered 26 cows, said Sam Chambers in The Sunday Times – a tenth of his herd. The unplanned cull was a sad but straightforward economic decision caused by “mayhem in the global commodities markets”. While Hemming’s bills for fertiliser and fuel needed to sustain his herd “almost doubled overnight”, he reports that “the price of culled cows has gone through the roof”, due to high demand for meat from McDonald’s and other outlets. “I am depleting my herd to generate quick cash to cover bills.

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