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LONDON, ENGLAND — Despite an anticipated 72-million-tonne increase in total world grain production in 2021-22, a fifth annual drawdown of grains stocks is anticipated, according to the International Grains Council (IGC) May Grain Market Report.

Total grain production is estimated at 2.292 billion tonnes, up from a downward revised estimate of 2.22 billion tonnes in 2020-21. The increased projection for global production partly offsets tighter beginning stocks.

Led by higher use of wheat and corn, global consumption is estimated to increase 59 ...

Feed company business models are designed on core principles usually based upon maximizing sales or optimizing the production of meat, milk or eggs. Depending on the objectives of the business, a mill manager can make key decisions based on mill performance and efficiency that will increase profitability and productivity, as well as reduce cost. Understanding what metrics to measure and utilize for decision-making processes are vital if a mill manager is to successfully influence the operation’s efficiency.

To determine the optimal ...

Russian companies are becoming increasingly reluctant about investing in new feed production capacities due to unprecedented volatility in the domestic grain market and uncertain payback prospects.

The Russian feed industry grew with a 6.7% CAGR between 2007 and 2017, the Russian state statistical service Rosstat estimated. To some extent, this growth has been fueled by the 2014 food embargo and the government-run import-replacement campaign on the domestic food market, which gave the Russian livestock industry a powerful impetus to expand production ...

BEIJING, CHINA — China will be almost entirely self-sufficient in staple grains such as rice and wheat by 2025, according to the China Agricultural Sector Development Report released on May 25.

The report, jointly released by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and International Food Policy Research Institute, forecasts the country’s total grain production at 692 million tonnes by that year.

China’s overall grain output in 2020 was 669 million tonnes, the report said.

“The grain production will keep increasing and China’s food ...

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, US — Grain and oilseed inspections for export from all major US export regions in the week ended May 13 totaled 2.9 million tonnes, up 13% from the previous week, up 37% from the same week in 2020, and 19% higher in comparison with the three-year average for the week, the US Department of Agriculture said in its weekly Grain Transportation Report.

By commodity, soybeans led the charge in the latest reported week, with a 27% increase over ...

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, US — With major grain, oilseed and edible oils prices at or near eight-year highs, crude oil prices six times the year-ago level, freight rates soaring and prices for materials (cardboard and aluminum, for example) and other input costs rising, can food price inflation be far behind? Not according to the US Department of Agriculture or many food manufacturing companies. If the expected post-pandemic demand surge develops, as many expect, price increases may be greater later this ...

MOSCOW, RUSSIA — Russia’s 2021 grain crop is expected to slip to 127.4 million tonnes, including 80.7 million tonnes of wheat, the Interfax News agency reported citing the Russian Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the ministry, farmers planted winter grains in dry soil last fall, but a mild winter helped circumvent damage. Spring grain planting is progressing well but could benefit from rains as more dry weather persists.

Last year, Russia’s grain harvest totaled 133.5 million tonnes of grain, including 85.9 million ...

BEIJING, CHINA — China’s soybean imports from Brazil saw a significant increase in April as cargoes arrived that were ordered earlier but delayed by rain in Brazil, Reuters reported, citing customs data.

China imported 5.08 million tonnes of soybeans from Brazil, up from 315,334 tonnes in March. Totals were still below the 5.939 million tonnes imported in the same month a year ago.

Crushers increased purchases, anticipating growing demand for animal feed from the recovering pig sector.

Because of the delay from Brazil, ...

BEIJING, CHINA — China already has bought more than one-third of its projected total corn imports for the 2021-22 marketing year from the United States, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA figures show that China has bought 9.5 million tonnes of corn from the United States and is expected to import about 26 million tonnes from all international suppliers for the 2021-22 season, which begins in September.

The Asian country’s demand for corn has risen dramatically ...

In his article in the November issue of World Grain, “Wheat flour finds outlet in value-added category,” Jeff Gelski describes value-added wheat flour approaches in the United States, including flour with higher levels of fiber, identifying domestic sources of Neapolitan-style pizza crust flour and improved food safety technology minimizing potential of flour microbial contamination. The purpose of this article is to review basic milling technologies and initiate thoughts on approaches to develop value-added products from grains, pseudo-grains, pulses and seeds.

Cereal ...