Grain Report

Dairy Australia generates a grain report to help farmers make more informed decisions when buying grain. The grain report is updated 40 times per year and provides an independent and timely assessment of grain markets in each dairy region.

Grain prices by location

Select a location to view the grain price:

International and national summary

National background comments: report for the week ending 23 July 2021.

The next update will be on Friday 6 August 2021. Direct links to reports on each dairy region immediately follow this international and national summary for grain.

Driving Prices Up

• The US spring wheat condition is reportedly at an all-time low with only 11% of the crop rated as being in good to excellent condition.
• A cold spell has hit the centre-south of Brazil, bringing frosts to major corn-producing regions with crop losses expected as a result. There are worries the crop could fall below 80 million mt - a decrease of up to 30 million mt compared to earlier forecasts.
• Germany’s Raiffeisen Association (DRV) has reduced its overall grain production forecast to 43.8 million mt following a significant shift in weather, fluctuating from hot and dry conditions to heavy rains and flash flooding. This rainfall is also expected to delay harvest by up to two weeks.

Driving Prices Down

• Argentina's winter wheat planting is nearing completion with around 96% of the crop planted as of July 14. Just over 58% of the crop is considered to be in good-to-excellent conditions, despite the lack of rainfall so far this season.
• The Rosario Board of Trade (BCR) have released their July crop update with Argentina’s wheat production in the 2021/22 season forecast to reach 20.5 million mt; an increase of 500,000 mt compared to the June forecast.

Global Trade News

• China’s monthly corn imports for June have reached record highs due to increasingly large purchases made to meet increasing demand from the feed industry. China’s pig herd has increased in the first half of the year by 29.2% on the year prior to 439.11 million head.
• Freight rates for dry bulk commodities were trending lower this week due to a fall in demand and price corrections.
• Thailand’s feed importer Feed Millers’ Association (TFMA) tendered for 138,000 mt of feed wheat. The lowest offer was US$308/mt compared to their last tender which closed at US$288/mt. As a result of the sharp price jump, the TFMA passed on the tender.
• The Philippines’ Import Group booked 50,000 mt of feed wheat late last week at an estimated US$287.50/mt for September delivery.

Local News

• The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a good chance of above average rainfall for Australia throughout the rest of winter and into spring. Models suggest the negative Indian Ocean dipole will remain and there are some signals that a weak La Nina will form near the end of the year.
• Despite strong rainfall across most grain growing regions over the past month, reports of water damage are unlikely to lead to widespread yield losses come harvest time.
• Grain Producers Australia, an industry body for grain growers has warned that harvest labour shortages leading into this year's harvest could be even worse than 2020. The GPA are working with both the state and federal governments to get on top of the issue prior to harvest.

Price change in table below reflects moves since previous report (16 July 2021)

All Location Grain Prices