Archive for 2022

COLBY, KANSAS, US — On the morning of Tuesday, May 17, 20 vehicles carrying three to four scouts each on the Kansas Hard Winter Wheat Tour departed Manhattan, Kansas, US, with the goal to cover nearly 300 miles on their first day to measure and assess the Kansas winter wheat crop and its current growing conditions. Tour participants saw the impact of drought on this year’s crop.

“Short and thin wheat in Northwest Kansas is the theme of this year’s wheat ...

WASHINGTON, DC, US — Drought in the west continued to drag US winter wheat conditions lower, while the cool wet start to the season had spring wheat seeding remarkably behind normal pace, the US Department of Agriculture said in its May 16 Crop Progress report.

In the 18 states that planted 89% of the crop in 2021, winter wheat in good to excellent condition on May 15 was 27%, easing from 29% a week earlier and compared with 48% a year ...

NEW DELHI, INDIA — While much of the recent attention has been focused on India’s decision to restrict most wheat exports — just weeks after declaring that it planned to drastically increase shipments of the food grain — several other countries that are traditional net exporters also have restricted or banned exports.

These decisions, coupled with Ukraine’s inability to export grain from its ports because of a Russian blockade, have led to record-high grain prices and growing food insecurity for developing ...

WASHINGTON, DC, US — In the first survey-based projection of the 2022 crop, the US Department of Agriculture in its May 12 Crop Production report forecast winter wheat production in 2022 at 1.173 billion bushels, down 103.818 million, or 8%, from 1.277 billion bushels in 2021.

The USDA winter wheat forecast was based on harvested area projected at 24.499 million acres, down 965,000 acres, or 4%, from 25.464 million acres in 2021, and an average yield forecast of 47.9 bushels an ...

KYIV, UKRAINE — Canada will help Ukraine export some 25 million tonnes of grain that has been stranded due to the Russian invasion, The Market Herald reported.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will help Ukraine find options to move the grain to other countries around the world. That could help with rising food prices as well as countries who rely on Ukrainian imports.

Since the Russian invasion in mid-February, Ukraine has exported grain via train over its western border. It ...

NEW DELHI, INDIA — The Indian government on May 4 revised its wheat production forecast lower to 105 million tonnes for the 2022-23 marketing year as a heatwave damaged the crop during crucial final stages of maturation.

Earlier this year, India projected a record crop of 111 million tonnes, which would have been the seventh straight year of record output.

With the smaller crop expected, the government said it is considering restricting wheat exports. Such a move would likely boost already high ...

WASHINGTON, DC, US — Lingering cool temperatures and wet conditions have put the seeding of major US crops behind the average pace. The 2022 US corn, soybean and spring wheat crops significantly trailed the progress of a year earlier and fell short of the recent five-year averages in the US Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress report issued May 2.

Corn futures advanced early in Tuesday’s session after the report was released late Monday, but all contracts were 7@10¢ a bushel lower ...

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — Uncertainty stemming from the war in Ukraine clouds the outlook for grain production and trade in the European Union, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Ukraine, which accounts on average for more than 40% of the EU’s total grain import needs, has exported very little grain or related inputs since the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24, the report said.

The USDA said this development ...

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, US — Among many daunting challenges currently facing the grain industry and food ingredient buyers and sellers, logistics remain at the top of the list for many, and it’s been going on for more than two years. Just as it seemed the impact from COVID was winding down in most countries, Russia invaded Ukraine and another round of challenges emerged, not the least of which is soaring fuel prices, and COVID is back in the picture especially ...

NUR-SULTAN, KAZAKHSTAN — While the Kazakhstani government has pledged to supply regional markets with wheat, many flour millers have ceased operations due to a lack of imports from Russia, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The government introduced wheat and wheat flour restrictions from April 15 to June 15 that allow Kazakhstani producers to export up to 1 million tonnes of wheat and 300,000 tonnes of flour. Exporters are expected to ...