Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Wheat prices continue to surge - with incredible volatility. Why? Moe Agostino Explains Global Issues.

Wheat prices continue to surge - with incredible volatility. Why? We
ask Moe Agostino of Farms.com Risk Management

Views: 169

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Wheat Prices Jump on Russia and Global Production Worries.

By Farms.com Risk Management Team
www.riskmanagement.farms.com

Wheat futures prices jumped to their highest prices in more than a year with growing concerns about reduced production due to a severe drought and heat wave in the prime agriculture areas in Russia.

Production estimates continue to be cut by commodity analysts as the heat wave continues with temperatures over 100 degrees F reduce potential yields. The reduced yields could see Russia reducing the amount of wheat available for exports, which accounted for almost 20% of the world’s wheat exports.

New concerns over the lack of grain supply is pulling corn and soybean prices higher as livestock producers may have to switch feed components.

Moe Agostino, Senior Markets Analyst for Farms.com also notes that wheat production in Canada is also reduced this year with extremely wet weather. This will also be supportive of stronger grain prices.
Looks like a crop disaster in Russia. Bloomberg Says Worst in 50 years.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-03/worst-russian-drought-in-5...
My mother had a saying: "The excuse is good enough".

While the media is reporting adverse conditions relating to wheat production even to the point warning the public the price of bread will increase..... a few questions should be asked.

where are the buyers?

This smells of the grain rally 3 years ago. The excuse then was ethanol. Reality was there were too many people playing the derivative markets.

One needs to ask how many banks, such as Goldman Sachs, have investments in grain commodities in the derivative markets today?

is the actual crop short or are derivatives rallying?

OntAG Admin said:
Wheat Prices Jump on Russia and Global Production Worries.
By Farms.com Risk Management Team www.riskmanagement.farms.com

Wheat futures prices jumped to their highest prices in more than a year with growing concerns about reduced production due to a severe drought and heat wave in the prime agriculture areas in Russia.

Production estimates continue to be cut by commodity analysts as the heat wave continues with temperatures over 100 degrees F reduce potential yields. The reduced yields could see Russia reducing the amount of wheat available for exports, which accounted for almost 20% of the world’s wheat exports.

New concerns over the lack of grain supply is pulling corn and soybean prices higher as livestock producers may have to switch feed components.

Moe Agostino, Senior Markets Analyst for Farms.com also notes that wheat production in Canada is also reduced this year with extremely wet weather. This will also be supportive of stronger grain prices.
Good questions....the market was down $60 yesterday.

Extreme volatility.

Moe happened to be down in Chicago yesterday for meetings at the CBOT and will have an interesting report on Monday.

Joe Dales
I totally agree with the Joann's reply. Although Russia may be experiencing a bad crop in total tonnage it may not be as significant as (the all too many derivative) traders suggest. South American supply may more than offset this perceived shortage with their escalation in grain production. Unfortunately when anyone who would dig a little deeper into the trading of the derivative would probably find an over escalation in options derivatives which over - valuates the total system and turns perceived shortage into an unrealistic crisis. That type of thin air trading system is alive in the futures grain exchange which is not good going forward for producers.

Joann said:
My mother had a saying: "The excuse is good enough".

While the media is reporting adverse conditions relating to wheat production even to the point warning the public the price of bread will increase..... a few questions should be asked.

where are the buyers?

This smells of the grain rally 3 years ago. The excuse then was ethanol. Reality was there were too many people playing the derivative markets.

One needs to ask how many banks, such as Goldman Sachs, have investments in grain commodities in the derivative markets today?

is the actual crop short or are derivatives rallying?

OntAG Admin said:
Wheat Prices Jump on Russia and Global Production Worries.
By Farms.com Risk Management Team www.riskmanagement.farms.com

Wheat futures prices jumped to their highest prices in more than a year with growing concerns about reduced production due to a severe drought and heat wave in the prime agriculture areas in Russia.

Production estimates continue to be cut by commodity analysts as the heat wave continues with temperatures over 100 degrees F reduce potential yields. The reduced yields could see Russia reducing the amount of wheat available for exports, which accounted for almost 20% of the world’s wheat exports.

New concerns over the lack of grain supply is pulling corn and soybean prices higher as livestock producers may have to switch feed components.

Moe Agostino, Senior Markets Analyst for Farms.com also notes that wheat production in Canada is also reduced this year with extremely wet weather. This will also be supportive of stronger grain prices.

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

The 13-Year Lag: Why Today’s Wheat Breeding Success Depends on Yesterday’s Investment

Wheat varieties are performing better than ever, but a “slow drip” of budget cuts means the next generation of innovation is at a critical crossroads. Wheat varieties that deliver high yields, exceptional quality and strong disease packages are available in abundant choice to Manitoba farmers. This choice and performance are thanks to an often-overlooked wheat breeding innovation system. “Wheat is one of my favourite crops to grow; it can withstand whatever the year throws at it,” says Jocelyn Velestuk, chair of the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC). “In past decades that hasn’t always been the case.” There’s lots of variables driving the success of wheat in Western Canada, but Velestuk is adamant that the foundation of that success is our wheat breeding programs. “We can’t take that system for granted and right now, it’s at risk,” she says. While the varieties available today are excellent, the process of plant breeding means those successes are built on efforts made over 1

Rotimi Aluko, professor, University of Manitoba

Rotimi Aluko is a professor at the University of Manitoba (UM) in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, as well as director of the Richardson Centre for Food Technology and Research. Originally from Nigeria, he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in biochemistry there before earning a PhD in food science at the University of Guelph. He moved to Winnipeg in 2001, where he lives with his wife. Their two children are grown; one lives in Winnipeg and the other is in Alberta. Where did you work before UM? I’ve been here for 25 years, but before UM I worked as a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatoon. What got you interested in becoming a professor? From my undergraduate days I was fascinated by my professors, how they taught, carried themselves and were respected in society. I worked as a scientist with AAFC after my PhD, but I was always on the lookout for a professorial position. It had been a longtime goal, so when t

Canadian Cattle Association Statement on Revised Regulatory Approach to the Livestock Traceability Regulations

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is pleased by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) announcement that new movement reporting requirements for cattle will not be moving forward while changes for other species will proceed. CCA remains committed to our support for livestock traceability as a core pillar of disease preparedness, market access and confidence in Canadian beef. CCA and provincial member organizations are in the final stages of convening a Task Force to work for producers on a risk-based, industry-led approach to disease preparedness and emergency management and will be making an announcement soon, pending finalization of the Task Force members.

Waterton Biosphere Region seeking input on predator losses

The Waterton Biosphere Region is seeking input from livestock producers who have experienced losses to bears, wolves or cougars between 2021 and 2025. Information collected through the survey will be used to help inform discussions around Alberta’s predator compensation program.  Producers are asked to provide up to five years of data on livestock inventories, overall death losses and predator-related losses. Personal information will remain confidential and will not be shared externally.  The survey is currently open to producers located within the Waterton Biosphere Region and will remain open until the end of June.  The survey is available online:  Producer Data – Predator Losses  Paper copies can also be obtained through local municipal district offices.  Understanding the biosphere region The Waterton Biosphere Region is a biosphere region located in southwestern Alberta. According to the organization, biosphere reserves are traditionally organized into three zones, known a

Wild boar eradication efforts continue across Alberta

Province reports nearly 600 animals removed since 2018 Alberta’s Wild Boar Control Program says efforts to eradicate invasive wild boar from the province are continuing to advance, with nearly 600 animals removed since 2018. In an update shared through the Alberta Invasive Species Council (AISC), the province reported that 595 wild boar have been removed through trapping efforts since the program began, including 108 animals in 2025 and nine more so far in 2026. Tracking progress toward eradication Wild boar are considered one of the most destructive invasive species affecting agriculture in North America due to their ability to damage crops, pasture, fencing, water systems and native ecosystems. They can also pose disease risks to livestock and wildlife populations. “The Wild Boar Control Program is taking some big steps towards eradicating wild boar in Alberta with the support of all our amazing partners,” wrote Hannah McKenzie, Wild Boar Specialist with the Alberta government,

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service