Grain prices jumped in recent days. On Friday of last week, the French wheat price for December increased by €9.25/t to €223/t.

It was holding that price and, on Wednesday afternoon, it had climbed again to €230.50/t.

That is by far the highest price over the past month. The previous peak this month was €215.25/t.

Corn also climbed, but had already been on the way up, so it was not as dramatic, but did jump on Wednesday when the November French price was up €6.50/t for the day so far to €246/t.

French oilseed rape was up dramatically as well. On Wednesday afternoon, the November price was at €548/t, up €9.25/t in the first part of the day.

In the US, wheat climbed slightly and corn, but not to the same extent, until Wednesday afternoon when wheat jumped by 18.25c/bu to 678c/bu.

There are a number of things affecting markets. The escalation of activity in the Middle East is one. The control of the Strait of Hormuz is likely a big factor in the markets and a contributor to the jump in prices on Wednesday. Dry weather and its impact on yields is also having a big impact.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) reported that “Ukrainian strikes against Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov led Russia to temporarily stop shipping moving from the Don River into the Sea of Azov”. The AHDB said this could disrupt Russian exports.

Harvest progress

Harvest is progressing rapidly at home and the situation is no different in other countries.

This week, FranceAgriMer announced that 59% of wheat had been cut and a massive 46% of spring barley had also been harvested.

Only 47% of the corn in France is now rated good to excellent. That’s well behind the five-year average of 69%. It was lowered 11 points in the latest report.

Reuters reported that this is the lowest condition level in 15 years and noted that Coceral cut EU corn production by 8% on Friday to 52.7m tonnes, the lowest since 2007.

Market analysts Expana reported to Reuters that it predicts the French maize crop at 8.9m tonnes, which is one-third behind 2025’s crop, but it also said the crop could go below 8m tonnes for the first time since 1976 when there was also extreme summer weather.

Native prices

At home, dried prices for November feed wheat are reported at somewhere around €225 to €230/t, while dried feed barley is reported at around €220/t or lower.

Maize is trading at around €235/t for November. In the drier weather and cutting at lower moisture contents, maybe there is an opportunity to sell grain directly to a local farmer. Consider this if you are harvesting in the coming days.