Grain markets were on a downward trajectory over the past week and were falling significantly on Wednesday.

On Wednesday afternoon 5 August, the Matif wheat price for December was at €226.50/t, down from €232.25/t the week before and down from the peak close of the past month of €245/t on 23 July.

Corn for November was on a similar trend, as well as UK and US prices, although US prices were showing some positivity.

In the US, 61% of corn crops were rated good or excellent this week, down 2% from the week previous, but rain is reported to be helping crops this week. Some 88% of soybeans are in bloom, which is 4% of the five-year average, and 63% of crops are in good or excellent condition.

Argus Media reported: “The sharp decline in oil prices, driven by the prospect of an agreement between the United States and Iran, added to the bearish factors weighing on the US grain market.”

Concern around grain exiting the Black Sea region is still affecting markets. Strikes in Ukraine and Russia and concerns around export routes are being closely watched by traders.

Prices also fell towards the end of the week, as traders took profits from gains in the market.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) reported EU grain production forecasts this week.

Soft wheat production was estimated down 8% from last season.

Maize production is now estimated at 51.9m tonnes, increasing the EU’s maize import requirement by 5m tonnes to 24m tonnes.

Barley production is estimated down to 51.1m tonnes. The French wheat and barley harvests were reported to be complete.

Oilseed rape

French rapeseed prices for November were also on a downward trend, although were in the green on Wednesday afternoon when the price was at €520/t, down from €531.25/t on the same day last week and from the month’s peak of €563.50/t on 23 July.

Soybean prices were down in the US. Crude oil prices will influence oilseed markets, as well as the reports of good soybean crops in the US.

The European Commission has reduced its forecast for sunflower production to 9.5m tonnes, down from 10.1m tonnes in the June report.

However, only 8.7m tonnes were harvested in the 2025/2026 season.

Native prices

Dairygold is no longer texting out 2026 prices, but €205/t was offered for green feed wheat for harvest 2027.

A price of €190/t was offered for green feed barley and €460/t for oilseed rape for harvest 2027. In Northern Ireland, spot dried barley delivered to Belfast was at £203.50/t last week, while spot dried wheat was at £219/t.