Grain prices closed down on the week last Friday, while corn was fairly stable and oilseeds were up.

The markets were reacting to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday.

A lift in prices this week was reported by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to be helped by funds and technical buying.

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Prices can’t seem to move further upwards at present, with uncertainty in the market.

WASDE report

The report had a lapse in funding due to the government shutdown in the US from 1 October to 12 November and there was a note to say that information for the report was limited.

The report estimated global wheat supplies for 2025/2026 to be larger, with increased consumption, trade and ending stocks.

The report projected global wheat ending stocks to be up 7.4m tonnes, which it said would be the first year-to-year increase since 2019/2020.

Maize supply was increased in the US for 2025/2026. Maize production is forecast at 16.8bn bushels. That’s a decrease of 62m bushels since September. Yield was estimated back 0.7bu/ac to 186bu/ac.

The report stated: “With supply rising more than use, corn ending stocks are up 44 million bushels to 2.2 billion.

“The season-average corn price received by producers is raised 10 cents to $4.00 per bushel.”

It stated: “Foreign barley production is raised reflecting increases for the EU, Russia, Argentina, and Ukraine that are partly offset by a cut for the United Kingdom.”

Oilseeds

Nearby oilseed prices are back up to August levels.

On Wednesday afternoon, the February price was at €486/t.

Oilseed prices were probably helped by suggestions that China may increase soybean purchases. The November price was at €470/t.

Global rapeseed production is raised 1.3m tonnes based on higher production in the EU, Australia, Ukraine and the UK.

Native prices

At home, spot barley prices (dried) have been reported around €210/t to €215/t, while wheat (dried) is about €5/t above this price.

Quinns of Baltinglass released forward prices for harvest 2026 this week.

Growers were offered green prices of €196/t for wheat, €188/t for barley and €440/t for oilseed rape.

With French wheat for December 2026 at €210.75/t (dried), it doesn’t look like a bad offer.