Russia has been stepping up its attacks on Ukrainian grain ships and ports. It recently shelled the Port of Odesa, killing one person and injuring eight others. | Screencap via x.com/@MamedovGyunduz

Market ignores Russian attacks on grain ships

Some think the market has been quiet due to large Aussie crop and infrequency of attacks; others say prices should rise

SASKATOON — Grain markets should be reinstating a Black Sea war risk premium, say analysts. “I’m very surprised that we haven’t started to push a bigger premium into the wheat market, especially soft wheats, because of what’s happening,” said MarketsFarm analyst Bruce Burnett. Related stories: Russia has been stepping up its attacks on Ukrainian grain […] Read more


It will be the first time in 20 years that farming has been unprofitable in the war-torn country. "And this is despite the fact that this year's favourable weather conditions supported agricultural production," the Ukrainian Agri Council said in a news release. | State Emergency Service of Ukraine photo via Reuters

Russian invasion takes toll on Ukrainian farmers

Ukraine’s farmers are “on the verge of bankruptcy,” says the country’s largest agricultural association. Crop production losses could reach US$3.2 billion, according to the pessimistic scenario of a financial forecast prepared by the Ukrainian Agri Council. Under the most optimistic scenario, where the country is once again able to fully use its Black Sea ports, […] Read more

The Ukrainian mission said in comments to Reuters that a ship was transporting 6,000 tonnes of corn, which it considered stolen, from the Black Sea port of Sevastopol. | Reuters photo

Ukraine claims ship holds stolen grain

BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuters) — Ukrainian officials asked Lebanon on Aug. 24 to bar a Syrian state-owned cargo ship carrying allegedly stolen Ukrainian grain from docking in Lebanon’s Tripoli port, according to the Ukrainian embassy. The Ukrainian mission said in comments to Reuters that the Finikia was transporting 6,000 tonnes of corn, which it considered stolen, […] Read more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture pegs Russia’s 2023-24 wheat production at 85 million tonnes, which is in line with the European Crop Monitor’s forecast of 86.7 million tonnes. However, Russia’s agriculture ministry is forecasting a much smaller crop of 78 million tonnes.  |  Reuters/ Alexey Malgavko photo

Black Sea wheat estimates difficult to pin down

Predictions vary wildly and global supplies could swing by millions of tonnes depending on which forecast proves correct

Black Sea wheat production forecasts are all over the map as analysts grapple with lingering uncertainty in that region. “There’s wildly varying estimates on production,” said MarketsFarm analyst Bruce Burnett. Global supply of wheat could swing by millions of tonnes depending on which forecast proves correct. “This is the largest wheat-exporting region in the world […] Read more


The U.S. Department of Agriculture pegs Russia’s 2023-24 wheat production at 85 million tonnes, which is in line with the European Crop Monitor’s forecast of 86.7 million tonnes. However, Russia’s agriculture ministry is forecasting a much smaller crop of 78 million tonnes. | Reuters/ Alexey Malgavko photo

Black Sea wheat estimates difficult to pin down

Black Sea wheat production forecasts are all over the map as analysts grapple with lingering uncertainty in that region. “There’s wildly varying estimates on production,” said MarketsFarm analyst Bruce Burnett. Global supply of wheat could swing by millions of tonnes depending on which forecast proves correct. “This is the largest wheat-exporting region in the world […] Read more