US soybean futures took a hit last night as the punters walked away from them on the back of improved crop ratings. Chicago futures shed 35c a bushel (-$16) on the nearby contract closing the session at 959.5c/bu. The decline in soybean values had the usual knock on effect...

It’s more of the same on the US weather map. The spring wheat belt is expected to remain hot and dry as harvest starts there while the lower Midwest and the hard red winter wheat states see cooler conditions and some good rain in the week ahead. This lack...

US futures values although slightly lower for the week do appear to be consolidating around these numbers. Technically the December soft red wheat and hard red wheat contracts at Chicago are looking a little oversold so we may see some support creep back into wheat in the new month....

There was a good mix of reports out last night, let’s look at the juicy bits. IGC, the EU equivalent to the USDA basically, came out with their monthly report that showed world wheat production at a four year low of 732mt. This is back 3mt on last month’s...

There is a lot of disbelief from the US farmer in regards to some the US spring wheat tour yield estimates. Looking at some of the photos and what they have estimated the yield at I can understand why. Yes there are some good crops and yes yields are...

The spring wheat crop tour is under way in North Dakota. As expected eastern ND is looking ok but those on western routes are seeing crops around 12″ to 14″ high with yield estimates around 1.2 to 1.85 t/ha. It should be mentioned that the major spring wheat area...

Storms across the US corn belt will be followed by cooler weather this week but the mercury is still likely to settle around the 30C mark. Longer term it looks like the first week of August may also be a little dry for the central corn belt and the...

The GFS weather map shows a few showers passing over the US corn belt over the next week. This was the catalyst for a spat of end of week profit taking in US futures markets overnight. Wheat, corn, soybean and canola futures all closed lower. The weather model shows...

Heat is back in the forecast for the US which saw grain futures values firmer across the board in overnight trade. Corn is entering a crucial phase of development and heat is the last thing it needs at flowering. Kansas is expected to see temperatures into the high 30s...

Predictions of a heat wave across the lower west corn belt in the USA this weekend supported row crop values while winter and spring wheat futures were slightly lower they do appear to be consolidating around these values in the short term. With US spring wheat harvest a week...