With large numbers across the industry absent for half terms breaks, last week was a pretty quiet affair and the recent rally, having no fresh news to feed it, ran out of steam. Expect similar this week as parts of Europe are off as well, markets have returned to mid-December levels and look pretty stable for the time being. You can still find bids for most things old crop related but increasingly you will be steered towards the summer months as nearby interest gets filled in.   

Farmers will be busy spring drilling as the excellent early window looks set to continue through to next weekend, after which things turn cold and wet for a time. The marketing of spring crops of oats and malting barley has been transformed in recent years with the arrival of new varieties that have helped lift the UK into quality markets we struggled to access before, as well as making spring crops a powerful option on farm. One thing that is clear however, is you do need to have the right variety to start with as the differences between the best and worst are like night and day. If you are not sure what to go for, speak to your agronomist/farm trader without delay.  

Have a good week.