Monday Market Briefing - 17th March 2025

As expected, markets did manage to halt the slide last week, posting largely unchanged numbers, but the escalating tensions around Trumps tariffs remain a threat to both old and new crop values. US corn exports are a potential target for counter-measures by importing nations affected by the government’s actions so far. The Ukraine war has been largely ignored by traders in recent months as grain has flowed relatively freely from the region however, current cease-fire negotiations are now facing significant hurdles, if this process unravels it could drive the conflict into a new, more dangerous phase.

Against such uncertainties its hopeless trying to guess the markets next moves so best just to be pragmatic, tidy up your old crop sales where you can- there’s good ongoing demand for quality wheats now -  and leave new crop to take care of itself perhaps. We are in a great spell of weather with another dry week ahead, then the promise of warmth and showers returning, so newly drilled spring crops will be getting off to a flying start and winter crops looking well also. No apologies here for still banging the drum, potentially high yielding wheat varieties will need feeding to maximise that potential in these ideal conditions.

Have a good week.