Sunset in Egypt on the Nile River south of Luxor. (CIA.gov)

Egypt’s ergot saga leaves wheat traders in limbo

Reuters — One Egyptian official’s tough stance on wheat imports carrying a fungus that wreaked havoc in the Middle Ages is baffling global grain traders and putting a spotlight on policy-making disarray in the world’s biggest purchaser of the commodity. Alarm bells began ringing in Egypt when a 63,000-tonne wheat shipment from France arrived in […] Read more


Russia said considering export duties for corn, barley

Moscow | Reuters –– Russia’s agriculture ministry is considering introducing an export duty for corn and barley, Russian news agency Interfax reported Wednesday, citing First Deputy Minister Evgenii Gromyko. “We will discuss this question,” he said. Gromyko added that the question was planned to be discussed at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, […] Read more

Durum wheat. (Gipsa.usda.gov)

Heavy producer selling pressures durum

CNS Canada –– Canadian durum prices are being pressured by heavy producer deliveries, according to one analyst, while demand is lagging last year’s pace. The durum market is being weighed on by larger-than-expected producer deliveries throughout January, said Jerry Klassen, manager of the Canadian office for Swiss-based grain trader GAP SA Grains and Produits. “I […] Read more



Barley chair and vice-chair re-elected to Alberta Barley

Reading Time: < 1 minute Mike Ammeter has been re-elected as chairman of Alberta Barley and Jason Lenz as vice-chair. “I had a great first year as chairman with Alberta Barley and I am honoured to have been re-elected,” said Ammeter. “This next year will be one filled with opportunities and challenges, and I am looking forward to continuing my […] Read more


Ardent’s Illinois flour mills reopened

Chicago | Reuters –– Ardent Mills, the largest U.S. flour miller, said operations resumed on Thursday at its mill at Chester, Illinois, that had been closed since Dec. 29 due to near-record flooding on the Mississippi River. Mill staff “have gone ‘above and beyond’ to conduct extensive cleaning and sanitizing to return the mill back […] Read more




(Jack Dykinga photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Changes to CGC’s Western wheat classes coming Aug. 1

Come Aug. 1, Western Canada will get a new ninth milling wheat class, Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR), that’s expected to open up opportunities for higher-yielding wheats, while preserving the quality reputation of the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) classes. U.S. Dark Northern Spring varieties Faller, Prosper and Elgin […] Read more