A man is seen outside the house damaged by Russian shelling, Odesa Region, southern Ukraine. (Photo by Nina Liashonok/Ukrinform/Sipa USA)

What is war fatigue?

If the West is 'tired' of the war in Ukraine, consider the reality of Ukrainians

As we approached the end of December, my mood, like that of most Ukrainians, was not at all Christmassy. The heroic achievement of 2022, when our lives hung in the balance and our defenders managed to repel the enemy, was replaced by the bloody routine of 2023.






Photo: Thinkstock

CBOT weekly outlook: U.S. wheat remains rangebound 

U.S. wheat prices essentially bottomed out during late November; recovered somewhat in December

United States wheat prices have been in something of a quandary lately, with any hope of higher prices curtailed by the need to remain competitive with cheaper Russian wheat, according to Tom Lilja of Progressive Ag in Fargo, North Dakota.  

Detail from the front of the CBOT building in Chicago. (Vito Palmisano/iStock/Getty Images)

CBOT weekly: Mostly bullish influences on soy, corn, wheat

China increasing imports, Brazil in weather bind

MarketsFarm — While extreme weather differences in Brazil remained the main focus of the Chicago Board of Trade’s attention, increased imports by China were becoming another major factor, according to Terry Reilly, senior agricultural specialist for Marex in Chicago. “People are watching China’s increased demand for soybeans, wheat and potentially corn,” Reilly said, noting the […] Read more


File photo of sunset over port facilities at Odesa. (Mixarde/iStock/Getty Images)

Ukraine could fail to meet future wheat demand if attacks continue, UN agency warns

Report shows 31 attacks on grain facilities since mid-July

United Nations | Reuters — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday that Ukraine’s wheat production may be unable to meet domestic and export demand in the years to come if Black Sea export routes remain blocked and attacks on food infrastructure continue. WFP’s Ukraine director, Matthew Hollingworth, said a forthcoming report […] Read more



Photo: Reuters/Ben Nelms/File

IGC raises world crop projections

If realized, the world wheat crop will the second largest on record

Projected worldwide wheat, corn and soybean production in 2023/24 was raised by the International Grains Council in its latest update, with better-than-expected corn yields in the United States and larger Black Sea wheat crops behind the adjustment.

Nutrien’s head office building in Saskatoon. (Liam O’Connor photo)

Nutrien misses quarterly profit estimates as potash prices plummet

Fertilizer demand expected to rise in Q4

Reuters — Nutrien fell short of analysts’ estimates for third-quarter profit on Wednesday, as lower potash prices weighed on the world’s biggest fertilizer producer. Potash prices have been falling after shipments from Belarus and Russia resumed. These exports had been significantly restricted last year following Western sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its invasion […] Read more