Ex-Iraq grain board chief to be investigated in graft case

CORRECTED, Feb. 20, 2016 — Baghdad | Reuters — Iraq’s acting trade minister has referred former grain board chief Saad al-Hamdani and 16 unnamed individuals for investigation over suspected transportation of illegal wheat shipments, a ministry statement said Monday. The grain board is responsible for purchasing billions of dollars worth of commodities internationally and from […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie spring wheat bids slide lower

CNS Canada –– Cash spring wheat bids across Western Canada moved lower during the week ended Friday, as the firmer Canadian dollar and losses in U.S. wheat futures weighed on values. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were down by $4-$6 per tonne over the week, according to price quotes from a cross-section […] Read more



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



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


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

Egypt moves to clarify ergot rules on wheat imports

Reuters — Egypt’s supply ministry moved to clarify rules on wheat imports on Thursday, saying it would allow shipments with traces of the grain fungus ergot to enter the country. Wheat traders have been concerned that uncertainty over payment and inspection terms in Egypt, the world’s biggest wheat importer, would dampen export demand. The problem […] Read more

(Country Guide file photo)

Prairie spring wheat bids move higher

CNS Canada –– Cash spring wheat bids across Western Canada moved higher during the week ended Friday, as U.S. futures also rose during that timeframe. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat prices were up by C$9-$10 per tonne during the period, according to price quotes from a cross-section of delivery points across the Prairie […] Read more