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Wheat gains support other grains

The winter wheat exchanges traded higher each day while Minneapolis was higher every day except May 14. For the week ending May 17, July Minneapolis gained 41 cents, September Minneapolis was up 38.5 cents, July Chicago was up 60.75 cents, September Chicago gained 55.5 cents, July Kansas City gained 62 cents and September Kansas City was up 58.5 cents.

• Ray Grabanski

Market retreat continues

Wheat lost ground last week. The winter wheat exchanges traded higher for most of last week but one bad session will force them to leave with small losses while Minneapolis lost ground in every session.

• Ray Grabanski

Demand drives markets higher

Wheat traded mixed last week with winter wheat exchanges gaining ground while Minneapolis drifted lower. For the week ending April 26, May Minneapolis dropped 23.25 cents, May Chicago was 10.25 cents higher, and May Kansas City was 13.25 cents higher. Weather was the main driver in all exchanges as frost concerns supported the winter wheat exchange while ideal conditions in the north encouraged planting progress.

• Ray Grabanski

Markets retreat on favorable conditions

Wheat closed last week ending April 19 mixed, with the winter wheat contracts ending with small losses to small gains while Minneapolis lost ground. For the week ending April 19, May Minneapolis was off 15 cents, May Kansas City was 5.5 cents lower and May Chicago was 1 cent higher.

• Ray Grabanski

Planting progresses

All three wheat exchanges struggled last week but most of the issues were in the winter wheat exchanges while Minneapolis experienced modest gains.

• Ray Grabanski

USDA surprises market

Wheat traded lower in most of the session this week, except for March 30. Early selling was tied to improving conditions for the Southern Plains winter wheat crop and from position squaring ahead of the March 30 U.S. Department of Agriculture report while strength March 30 was because of a friendlier-than-expected acreage report from USDA.

• Ray Grabanski

Markets retreat

The wheat markets had losses of 15 to 26 cents last week. The winter wheat markets had the larger losses due to beneficial rains in much of the winter wheat belt and losses in the corn market. Minneapolis wheat had lighter losses due to strong export sales and lingering concerns about dry soil conditions in the Northern Plains. Markets will likely spend this week positioning ahead of the March 30 reports.

• Ray Grabanski

A wave of export sales

The corn market gained 10 cents last week. The futures came under pressure mid-week with larger acreage and production estimates for 2012. Buying interest did resurface late last week with fresh export sales.

• Ray Grabanski

Production concerns support grains

Wheat started the week higher to sharply higher with most of the early session strength coming from weather concerns overseas. Rain has been slowing harvest activity in Europe and now is starting to cause quality concerns. In addition, dry concerns are starting to pop up in Australia. Gains were trimmed late in the session do to technical selling.

Swine flu pressures; weather supports

The wheat market took a turn for the worse as it started the week like most of the other commodities. Most of the losses April 27 were a result of concerns toward the recent swine flu pandemic. The fear is that if the swine flu issue continues to spread and more people get diagnosed with the disease, the world will slip back further into a recession and demand for U.S. ag products will decrease.

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Markets slip lower

Wheat lost ground big last week on improving conditions. The Wheat Quality Tour is estimating a much better than expected winter wheat crop while crop conditions in the Northern Plains have been close to ideal.

• Ray Grabanski

USDA report surprises

Wheat struggled last week, even with a friendly U.S. Department of Agriculture report. For the week ending April 12, May Minneapolis dropped 8.5 cents, May Chicago was 75 cents higher, and May Kansas City was off 9.5 cents.

• Ray Grabanski

Exports drive market

The corn market was up 30 cents last week in old crop, while new crop contracts gained about 10 cents. Talk of increased exports to China provided direction to the market early last week, while the possibility of an early planting season due to warm weather in the Corn Belt was talked about through the second half of last week.

• Ray Grabanski

Firm markets start new month

The corn market gained 8 to 10 cents in both old and new crop contracts last week. Corn found support from smaller South American production and tighter U.S. old crop ending stock estimates. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its next monthly crop production and supply/demand report on March 9.

• Ray Grabanski

Soybeans take a strong lead

The corn market lost 5 cents in March and 15 cents in December last week. Corn continued to trade in its sideways pattern. The market found support from fresh export sales along with tight ending stocks, while the new crop market is finding pressure from larger acreage and yield estimates.

• Ray Grabanski

USDA report offers little surprise

The corn market lost 10 cents last week as there were no big surprises in the U.S. Department of Agriculture supply and demand report. Traders were expecting tighter stocks and an increase in exports, which did materialize and was built into the market.

• Ray Grabanski

February starts on firm footing

The corn market remained unchanged last week and traded near $6.40 in the March contract. The futures traded in a sideways pattern last week as it lacked any fresh news. Decent export sales last week, a firm cash market and lack of farmer selling offered support.

• Ray Grabanski

Potential exports drive wheat higher

The corn market gained 25 cents last week with the strength in the wheat market. Rumors that Russia may put a tax on wheat exports and may even ban exports supported the wheat market which spilled over to corn. The strengthening export demand and a firming cash basis also offered support last week.

• Ray Grabanski

USDA deflates bulls

Corn started last week trading with strength due to continued weather concerns in South America, primarily Argentina. But the gains were short-lived once USDA’s reports were released. USDA’s Final Crop Production report was not friendly for corn, as USDA raised 2011 U.S. corn yields and harvested acreage.

• Ray Grabanski

Market quiet ahead of report

Wheat started the week on the defense and traded with losses throughout the session. Early pressure was a result of spillover pressure from a sharply higher U.S. dollar. Additional selling was due to news that Egypt bought 120,000 metric tons of Ukraine wheat. The Minneapolis exchange was the best performer as concerns about tight stocks of high-quality wheat continue to support hard wheat’s.