Grain markets and oilseed rape prices improved this week.

The December price for French wheat increased by €3/t last week to close at €193/t on Friday. It had moved to €195/t by Wednesday afternoon.

UK and US wheat prices also increased in recent days. Maize prices were up in France and the US.

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Talks between the US and China are bringing positivity to the market. The strength of the euro against the dollar has fallen again and this is helping to make European grain more competitive.

Oilseed rape prices also increased. Last week, the French Matif price for February increased by €6.25/t to €480.50/t on Friday. It had hit €483.25/t on Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon, this week it was at €480/t after a drop.

Kerry prices

Another price announcement was made this week.

Kerry Dairy Ireland will pay a total of €195.50/t for feed barley, €205.50/t for feed wheat and €187.50/t for feed oats. You can read the full details on bonuses and payments on page 6 of this week’s paper.

Last week, Agra Facts reported that European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen forecasted an 11.3% increase in EU cereal production compared with last year.

He outlined a “remarkable recovery in soft wheat production”. He also noted that oilseed production increased.

The Commissioner said cereal farmers are struggling with tight margins driven by a global oversupply that made wheat prices decrease to a five-year low, while input costs remain high.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board in the UK reported that quality results suggest a greater availability of wheat for bread making, meaning less should enter the feed market.

It reported that spring barley screenings were likely at their worst in Britain since 2012. It said just 90% was retained by a 2.5mm sieve, down from 94.9% in 2024.

Crop progress reports from the US haven’t been published since the beginning of October due to the government shutdown. However, the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report is expected to come out on 14 November.

Soya

There are some concerns around soya supplies in the feed market as EU deforestation rules due to come in this December remain up in the air.

Euractiv reported this week that Austria is calling for an “immediate stop the clock” on the regulations for one year.

Reasons for the call include the need for simplification to be concluded, as well as allowing time to change rules before they take effect in December.