An average year on the Prairies can see wheat midge cause up to $60 million in crop damage. A bad year can see that number jump to $300 million.

Wheat varieties could move from midge tolerance to midge resistance

Researchers are trying to isolate molecules that appear to transmit resistance to their neighbours

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A group of western Canadian researchers is trying to create wheat strains with built-in resistance to wheat midge. Though midge-tolerant varieties are available, they are on a mission to add another layer of defence. “One thing biologists have noticed is there are certain varieties of wheat that, for whatever reason … where […] Read more

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

CBOT weekly outlook: Crop prices soften after USDA report release

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — An unexpectedly bearish supply/demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last Friday is still putting pressure on crop prices nearly a week later, according to one trader. In the department’s WASDE report, the estimated average yield for corn was revised downward from the month before by only 1.6 bushels per acre […] Read more


CBOT November 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, brown and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy dives on China’s economic uncertainty

Improved outlook for Ukraine exports weighs on grains

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybeans fell on Monday, pressured by forecasts for beneficial rainfall in parts of the U.S. Midwest and unexpected data from China that suggested declining demand for U.S. agricultural commodities from the country. The People’s Bank of China cut key interest rates on weaker-than-expected economic data from the world’s second-largest economy, […] Read more

The USDA building in Washington, D.C. (Art Wager/iStock/Getty Images)

Wheat, soybeans buck expectations in USDA report

Soy ending stocks figure adjusted higher

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Projected average yields and production for wheat and soybeans for 2022-23 went against many analysts’ expectations, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA released its monthly world agriculture supply and demand estimates (WASDE) on Friday, which surprisingly showed upward revisions for average yields and production despite pre-report estimates showing the opposite. […] Read more


CBOT September 2022 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (green line), MGEX September 2022 spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. September 2022 hard red wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat futures extend gains on crop risks

Wheat market also weighs prospects for more Ukraine exports

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and wheat futures rose on Wednesday, as hot, dry weather in parts of the U.S. and Europe kept attention on harvest risks, while soybeans settled lower after notching contract highs. Traders also adjusted positions ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) monthly supply and demand […] Read more



CBOT November 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans gain as U.S. crop ratings decline

Restart of Ukraine sea exports anchors wheat

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures climbed to their highest in more than a week on Tuesday on lower weekly U.S. crop condition ratings and worries that hot, dry weather in the western Midwest forecast would continue to stress crops. Wheat was also firmer as the dollar softened, although gains were limited […] Read more

CBOT December 2022 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans slip after Midwest rains

Traders looking ahead to USDA report on Friday

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures eased on Monday as improved weather in parts of the U.S. Midwest’s farm belt boosted harvest prospects for crops stressed recently by high temperatures and dryness. Chicago Board of Trade wheat firmed as the dollar softened, although gains were limited by improving prospects for exports from […] Read more