Key Market Movers: Trade, Currency, and Weather Prompt a Rally
It is no surprise that U.S. trade policy has dominated global news, and potential tariffs have introduced uncertainty into international trade. While the direct effects of tariffs on trade are widely understood, the anticipation of such measures has influenced commodity markets. Concurrently, wheat markets experienced upward pressure, driven by a combination of factors including weather-related […]
Wheat Industry News From Around the World
Speaking of Wheat “As president … I talked to experienced producers facing the realities of this downturn in the ag economy, and they feared they would not be able to secure operating credit in 2025 without some form of economic assistance. This legislation provides farmers with a bridge heading into next year. However … enacting […]
November Precipitation Rapidly Improves U.S. Winter Wheat Condition
Wheat farm families across the United States are sharpening their pencils to figure out how to deal with the on-going challenges of high input costs and low crop prices. Fortunately, 2025 winter wheat crop conditions do not create another concern for many of them following a remarkable turnaround in November. Writing in Progressive Farmer Dec. […]
A Look Ahead: What We Know about the 2025/26 Crop
Although the 2024 harvest season has recently concluded in the Northern Hemisphere, winter crop planting and decision-making for the 2025 planting season are already shaping market expectations. As discussed in a Nov. 5 “Market Summary” report to U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) directors dry conditions and other adverse weather have already created concerns around winter wheat […]
Key Market Mover: Concern About Dry Conditions Continues to Drive Markets
As the Northern Hemisphere harvest concludes and crops in the Southern Hemisphere near maturation, wheat markets are still highly sensitive to weather-related news. As headlines about dry conditions around the globe come and go, and markets fluctuate daily, having information about the current drought conditions worldwide and potential impacts remains important to wheat buyers. Southern […]
First Look: Larger Hard Red Winter Wheat Crop Offers More Consistent Quality
Continuous varietal improvement and improved growing conditions following a multiple year drought helped Central and Southern Plains farmers produce a more familiar, well-balanced hard red winter (HRW) wheat crop for 2024. A wider range of conditions in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) HRW crop encouraged higher yields with lower, but highly functional, protein levels. Both supplies […]
First Look: Another High-Quality Soft Red Winter Wheat Crop
In its first detailed report on U.S. wheat quality in 2024, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is pleased to report that farmers growing soft red winter (SRW) wheat weathered some challenging conditions to produce another high-quality crop for domestic and overseas customers. The 2024 SRW crop benefitted from excellent winter moisture followed by mid-season drought and […]
Laudeman Discusses Deregulation of Drought-Tolerant Wheat, Next Steps on RFD-TV’s ‘Market Day Report’
USDA’s ruling last month cleared the regulatory pathway for cultivation of HB4® drought-tolerant wheat in the United States, but several steps remain before U.S. farmers are able to grow the trait commercially. USW Director of Trade Policy Peter Laudeman, who has had a close eye on USDA’s deregulation process – as well as the company […]
Competitor Watch: Production is a Mixed Bag in the EU and Black Sea
As the Northern Hemisphere harvest progresses, more output and quality information has become available. Seen during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremonies, persistent rains have continued to hit crop growing areas in France (photo above, iStock) and Germany, influencing harvest quality and yields, while the drought impacts in central and southern Russia have had well […]
Volatile Wheat Markets Highlight Unexpected Opportunities
In late May, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) reported on bullish wheat market sentiment, driven by adverse weather and changing supply and demand conditions. Since then, the volatility that has remained a constant in wheat markets for more than two years returned. From May 24 to June 21, CBOT, KCBOT, and MGEX wheat futures dropped 69 […]
