This blog was first featured as an article in the August issue of Three Counties Farmer Since beginning these monthly columns back in March, I think we've experienced almost every weather condition Mother Nature could throw at us. At times I've written this while watching the snow settle ever deeper and the winds get bitterly cold. I've witnessed w...

World Markets US wheat closed slightly lower yesterday, seeing some profit after the recent strong gains. The US winter wheat harvest was put at 90% complete in this week's crop update and spring harvest 13% cut, with ratings down 4% on last week at 74% good to excellent. Corn ratings were seen to decline by 1% to 71% good to excellent, versus 60% ...

WHEAT  Buoyant UK market Another volatile week in the UK grain trade saw November futures hit new contract highs of £195 on Thursday, fuelled by crop issues globally. As a result, we saw a good level of farmer selling for both 2018 and 2019 crop at levels well above the cost of production. Wheat harvest nationally lies at around 40% complete, ...

​Well, harvest is flying! Crops are in the barn much earlier than usual which gives us more time to think about how best to tackle oilseed rape establishment. However, that's not all there is to start planning. Some growers are using this extra time to contemplate companion crops and how they can help bring benefits to their farm.  Companion c...

WHEAT  Volatile UK wheat prices In reaction to further cuts to European wheat crop estimates, speculative trading and consumer short covering lifted the wheat market sharply higher this week. London wheat futures rallied to new contract highs on Thursday, with the November 2018 contract trading above £190.00/t.This was almost £15/t up on the p...

As we progress through harvest and get into August, one of the next jobs for many will be thinking about drilling oilseed rape. Establishing OSR can be a real challenge and that concern will likely be even greater following the remarkably prolonged hot and dry weather spell we've been experiencing across the UK. Good, rapid establishment is the key...

WHEAT  UK prices firm again Domestic wheat prices firmed a further £3-£5 this week, despite harvest progressing well across Europe. In a year when UK wheat output is forecasted at or below 14 million tonnes, we will be relying more heavily on imports and therefore price movements around Europe affect us more than normal. Crop reductions in som...

WHEAT  Wheat report from the USDA Yesterday, the USDA published their July World Supply and Demand Estimates. They highlighted the tightening global balance sheet making further cuts in output to many of the world's major wheat producers. From their June report, they see Australia down two million tonnes, the EU down 4.4 million tonnes, Russia...

WHEAT  Production losses impact prices European markets took fright this week, following analyst trading houses citing their expectation of further production losses throughout EU wheat crops as harvest gets underway. The price reaction has been a shock for the market, with London wheat futures for new crop swinging higher by £13 at its peak s...

WHEAT  US markets slide further US wheat closed the week slightly weaker, as fund selling pressurised futures lower. Focus remains on trade issues between the US and China as they continue to make headlines. Despite this, the US remains overvalued as an exporter compared to the likes of Russia and we could see further devaluation in the coming...

WHEAT  The Trump factor The recent market trend for higher prices has reflected concerns for global wheat where adverse weather has been hurting crops in North America, Russia, North West Europe and Australia.However, the beginning of this week saw all this discarded as the Trump administration ramped up its trade dispute with China. Talk that...

WHEAT Markets lose grip World wheat markets have reversed sharply this week; with US wheat giving away nearly a month's worth of gains. Weather markets are still in play but the stresses in some regions have abated, as rains aid establishment in Australia and improve corn and spring wheat conditions in the US. However, there are still enough flags ...

WHEAT  Weather and tariff talks in the USA​ Global weather models continue to underpin new crop wheat prices and despite very little change over the past seven days, widespread dryness remains the theme in the USA and the Black Sea. Chicago wheat futures were among a host of agricultural commodity markets that began the week with sharp losses ...

Oilseed rape remains one of the most profitable break crops and has a key role to play in the rotation. This is particularly true where there is a black-grass issue due to the ability to use non-resistant chemistry. However, increasing levels of erucic acid are proving problematic. Oilseed rape is an expensive crop to grow so any rejections due to ...

WHEAT Weather drives markets higher again Ongoing weather issues and crop concerns saw world markets surge higher early this week, with French wheat futures hitting 11-month highs. The US hard red winter wheat areas, the Black Sea region, North Eastern Europe and Eastern Australia have continued to be dry with above average temperatures. However, e...

WHEAT  Markets higher World wheat markets have propelled higher this week, fuelled in the most part by weather driven sentiment and political positioning over tariff negotiations between China and the US concerning the supply of agricultural products. Warm weather persists Whilst US winter wheat crops remain under stress and planting condition...

WHEAT Demand quenched by imports The UK domestic market for old crop continued to remain well supported this week for supplies of both feed and quality wheat with the deficit areas of the west and north pulling on remaining supplies. The constraints on road freight availability are hindering trade flows from surplus southern grain areas, to overcom...

This is the new home of Frontrunner - Frontier's weekly grain marketing update. Subscribe to the blog to be notified every time it is published. WHEAT USDA sees lower world wheat and corn stocks next season Yesterday afternoon the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) published their first world supply and demand estimates for 2018/19. The...

Recent dry and warm weather has encouraged oilseed rape crops into full flower and the countryside is dappled with bright, yellow fields. It is easy at this stage to forget about the preceding weather and the impact it has had on managing these crops this year. The relatively warm autumn and early winter meant that soil nitrogen levels were potenti...

 WHEAT Old crop supplies tight in the North We continue to have a north/south divide in our domestic wheat market. We are seeing reasonable supplies in the south of England and heavy demand in the north of England and Scotland but with rapidly diminishing farm stocks in these areas. With no easy way of moving wheat over long distances from sou...