Cereals & Production Tips

(Michael Thompson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Crops, Reuters, Spring Wheat, Weather, Winter Wheat

Ardent restarts Illinois flour mill after flooding

By Michael Hirtzer, GFM Network News January 5, 2016

Chicago | Reuters –– The largest U.S. flour miller, Ardent Mills, has resumed operations in Alton, Illinois, as floodwaters along the Mississippi River receded while a mill at Chester, Ill. will remain down for weeks, company executives said Tuesday. Near record-high floodwaters following deadly winter storms forced the company to shut down the mills a […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Prairie spring wheat bids down with U.S. futures

By GFM Network News January 4, 2016

CNS Canada — Cash spring wheat bids across Western Canada moved lower during the two-week holiday period ending Thursday (Dec. 31), as the U.S. futures also drifted lower during that time frame. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were down by C$7-$8 per tonne during the two-week period, according to price quotes from […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Reuters, Weather

Floods close two Ardent flour mills

By Reuters, GFM Network News December 30, 2015

Reuters — Two Illinois flour mills near the Mississippi River and operated by Ardent Mills were shuttered because of flooding this week, the company told Reuters on Wednesday. Ardent, the largest U.S. flour miller, operated jointly by Cargill, ConAgra Foods and CHS Inc., said the mills in Chester and Alton will remain closed “until the […] Read more

Crops, Reuters, Weather, Winter Wheat

Flooding in U.S. Midwest threatens winter wheat

By GFM Network News December 29, 2015

Chicago | Reuters — Heavy weekend storms caused flooding in parts of the southern U.S. Midwest, threatening the region’s soft red winter wheat, crop experts said on Monday. A swath of eastern Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and southern Illinois received 7.5 to 18 cm of rain with localized totals of up to 25 cm, MDA Weather […] Read more

Cereals, Crops

Minogue: Wanna start a cereal seed company?

By Leeann Minogue, GFM Network News December 22, 2015

It’s clear from where the Prairies’ cereal growers’ groups sit that it’s time for farmers to get more involved in wheat and barley breeding — and they have a new report in hand suggesting ways to do so. Options in the report, from the newly-formed Wheat and Barley Variety Working Group, range from improving the […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat

Russian ministry proposes reducing wheat export tax

By Reuters, GFM Network News December 21, 2015

Moscow | Reuters — Russia’s agriculture ministry has proposed that the government reduce or cancel its wheat export tax due to rouble volatility and a decline in global wheat benchmarks, the Interfax news agency reported, citing first deputy minister Evgenii Gromyko. The rouble has lost about six per cent against the U.S. dollar since the […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Markets

Prairie spring wheat bids down as basis erodes

By GFM Network News December 21, 2015

CNS Canada –– Cash spring wheat bids across Western Canada moved lower during the week ended Friday, as basis levels deteriorated. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were down by C$1-$5 per tonne during the week, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points across the Prairie provinces. Average prices ranged […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Markets, Reuters

Russia, China sign accords on grain quality control

By GFM Network News December 18, 2015

Reuters — Moscow and Beijing have signed agreements on the control of grain quality, which technically open the Chinese market to Russian grain. Russian food safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor and the Chinese government body in charge of quality control signed two food safety documents on Russian wheat, corn (maize), rapeseed, soybean and rice supplies at a […] Read more

Cereals, Columns

Canada’s ever-changing grain scene

Understanding Market Bulls and Bears: Keep your eye on the changes underway in Canada’s grain and ag retail industries

By Brian Wittal December 16, 2015

There are a lot of changes underway that will have significant impacts on the future of our grain buying and ag retail business. This is my second column on the Canadian grain scene. Viterra/Glencore We know the history behind Viterra/Glencore’s evolution from the days of the Prairie Pools to today’s corporate entity known as Viterra. […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Oats

Oat prices move higher to spur farmer selling

By GFM Network News December 11, 2015

CNS Canada — Prairie oat prices are ticking upward as buyers try to coax farmers into a slow market — but prices, most notably in Saskatchewan, may need to move further before that happens. “Prices are below expectations, and in some instances quality is below what the market is willing to accept at this point,” […] Read more

Daily Network News

JBS reaches deal with U.S. meatpacking workers who went on strike

Public consultation open on national beef code of practice

Pulse weekly: Indian forecasters predict below-normal monsoon

Cereals