Are our harvest reports getting too gloomy?
There has been a recent discussion in the office about whether our harvest reports have been getting too gloomy. Certainly they have carried some pretty depressing headlines: “Sodden in Cornwall”,...
View ArticleHow accurate are the official harvest estimates?
Are government agencies exaggerating the size of this year’s global grain crop and are multinationals influencing the figures in order to move the market one way, then the other? It’s a hell of a...
View ArticleQuestion marks over UK grain balance sheet
Latest data from DEFRA on the size of this year’s grain harvest contain few surprises. The whole farming industry has known for months that the UK has produced less wheat and more barley. The only...
View ArticleGrain trade torpor – calm before the storm?
One of the buzz words that seems to be on just about everyone’s lips at the moment is “volatility”. No matter which market you look at – cereals, dairy or meat – prices are subject to frequent and, at...
View ArticleGrain market feels the pain as sterling strengthens
There can be little doubt that the bears are winning the day in the grain markets this month. Prices have been under pressure since the turn of the year, with March futures dropping from £111/t in week...
View ArticleUkraine pours fuel on grain trade fire
News has emerged that the Ukraine may cut grain exports for the remainder of 2010, following the impact of the continuing drought on the country’s crops. According to the BBC, Ukraine’s cabinet will...
View ArticleWynnstay expands grain trading business
Farm inputs supplier Wynnstay Group has acquired Shropshire-based Wrekin Grain as part of plans to expand its grain trading business. From early July, all Wrekin staff will join Wynnstay’s grain...
View ArticleModel highlights impact of grain price rise
The HGCA has published an interesting prediction of arable incomes this season, showing the impact of higher grain prices, but also the potential losses if there is a big drop in yields. Its...
View ArticleAre speculators really to blame for volatility?
As the debate about whether speculators are fuelling volatility in futures markets rumbles on, it was interesting to hear from someone at the forefront of it all this week. NYSE Liffe’s Peter Blogg...
View ArticleCommodities speculators under fire again
Financial speculators have come into the firing line again, this time from NFU Scotland. The union has backed calls for greater regulation to curb the damage speculation is having on agricultural...
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