Latest News From Ukraine

Experts are watching global dynamics to understand the input market’s longer-term outlook in the U.S. Among their top concerns are geopolitics, weather and low supply.

A Russian missile strike on Thursday hit eastern Ukraine, now considered one of the deadliest since the war started. Russia also attacked grain storage in the Odesa region, damaging a grain silo near the Danube River.

Grain prices continue to rally as Russia ramped up attacks on Ukrainian ports on the River Danube. But agricultural economists and markets analysts point out the situation still hasn’t reached a worst-case scenario yet.

From growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia to forecasts for hot and dry weather across the Midwest, grain prices have been on a volatile run. Analysts think the volatility could heat up again next week.

The July Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor showed several key changes from June including a bigger cut to corn and soybean yields, a drop in corn and soybean prices and more bullish cattle and hog prices.

The Kremlin said there was no link between the attack and suspending the deal, which lets Ukraine export grain through the Black Sea. Instead, it occurred over a failure to ease rules for food and fertilizer exports.

This comes amid word that Ukraine's ag output is expected to decline by 36% this year, compared to 2021.

Last week was full of both bullish and bearish news for the wheat market. Arlan Suderman of Stone X Group says there are still several things that could spark momentum in the wheat market.

The Ukraine Black Sea grain deal has been extended for two more months, one day before Russia could have quit the pact over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports.

Wheat and corn exports out of the Black Sea region are at risk again as Ukrainian officials say Russia is taking action to block inspections of ships under the Black Sea grain initiative.

Kansas typically accounts for 25% of the nation's winter wheat production, but ongoing drought is weighing on overall crop conditions. Farmers are now facing the possibility of increased abandonment this year.

The Kremlin said the outlook for the landmark U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal was not great as promises to remove obstacles to Russian exports of agricultural and fertilizer exports had not been fulfilled.

As Americans, we are free to debate the budgets, the policies, the processes and purpose of our role in this conflict. I can’t, however, ignore the humanity paying the cost. 

Russia badly needs to replace expended and outdated Soviet arms while China needs Russian energy. That is compelling math. This is bad news not just for the heroic people of Ukraine, but Europe and the US.

“When Ukraine fails, in terms of their ability to produce agricultural products, the world becomes less safe,” says Howard Buffett, global philanthropist and Illinois farmer.

Russia is now saying it will only extend its Black Sea grain deal if sanctions are lifted on its own agricultural products. The deal, which was brokered last year, allowed for safe passage of Ukrainian ag products. 

A year after Russia invaded Ukraine farmers continue to see reduced crop production and exports. Farming has been difficult in the middle of a war, but farmers such as Nick Gordiichuk have persevered.

A year ago, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine injected uncertainty about global grain supplies into the market. Today, initial concerns have been squashed by the reality of record exports from the Black Sea Region.

It didn’t start with the swing of an ax in the Amazon or by an explosion in Kiev. Both contributed, but the shifts in global grain flows is a multifaceted prism through which the future is continuing to evolve.

For Ukrainians, the introduction of Starlink has been essential. As Russian barrages destroy cell towers and blow up landlines, satellite internet connection is not just an option, but it's now a lifeline.

The new year brings fresh market action, but volatility continues to be the main theme to enter the new year. As farmers look ahead, analysts say there are some keys lessons to keep in mind from 2022.

As of January 2022 there were over 1,000 satellites in orbit that fall into the category of Earth observation.

The grain markets saw waves this week, and agricultural economists say it revealed just how much traders think the vital grain corridor in Russia and Ukraine is worth.

SINGAPORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Russia's weekend backtrack from a U.N.-brokered deal to export Black Sea grains is likely to hit shipments to import-dependent countries.

Data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food shows the country shipped 6.9 million metric tons of grain, vegetables and edible oils last month, nearly matching the 7.1 million tons exported in Sept. 2021. 

As a farmer in Ukraine, I have learned that the weather and other normal farming challenges are not as bad as the bullets, rockets, and grenades of Russia’s war on my country.

Dan Basse was at World Dairy Expo for the live taping of U.S. Farm Report. He admits he’s been bullish on grains for two consecutive years; however, his outlook has changed despite the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Europe is racing to investigate potential acts of sabotage after both the natural gas pipelines linking it to Russia suffered inexplicable, sudden leaks. This comes as Europe transitions away from Russian fossil fuels.

Satellite imagery, communications intercepts and human intelligence proving Russia had plans to invade Ukraine was presented to U.S. officials in Oct. 2021. When briefed to NATO allies, some thought it was bogus.

The 2022 Pro Farmer Crop Tour will be sweeping the Midwest soon. We spoke with a handful of master crop scouts to get a preview of what to expect on each leg of the tour.

Less than a week after the first shipment of grain left Ukraine, three more ships departed Friday. Grain analysts are still concerned about not only how much grain will be exported, but if the ships will safely return.

Ukraine's first shipment of grain  since Russia's invasion is now one step closer to reaching its final destination of Lebanon. The UN. says the shipment of over 26,000 tons of corn was cleared to proceed Wednesday.

“There are still more questions than answers, but we did get a vessel out the door,” says Dan Basse, president of AgResource Company.

For the first time since the war started, a Ukrainian ship carrying grain left port. The UN says the Razoni was carrying 26,527 MT of corn. The vessel was stuck in port since Feb. 18, before the start of the war.

Heavy Russian strikes hit the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight and early on Sunday, killing the owner of one of the country's largest grain producing and exporting companies, the local governor said.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Thursday that grain shipments from Ukraine could resume as soon as today but that details of the exact coordinates of shipping routes were still being finalized.

Global grain trader Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (ADM) reported a 74% rise in second-quarter profit on Tuesday, benefiting from high demand for grains and tighter supplies following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Five months after the invasion, Senators will receive a classified briefing Wednesday. Russia launched a missile attack on the key grain-exporting port of Odesa Saturday, a day after signing a deal to resume exports.

Ukraine pressed ahead Sunday with efforts to restart grain exports under a deal to ease global food shortages but warned deliveries would suffer if the recent Russian missile strike on Odesa was a sign of more to come.

A day after Ukraine and Russia signed a deal to resume grain exports from Ukraine, Russian missiles hit the Odesa port. Ukrainian foreign-ministry accused Vladimir Putin of “spitting in the face” of U.N and Turkey.

With little to no diesel readily available to fuel harvest, wheat and other grains languish in the country's fields. One analyst says he expects the global wheat market will be shorted 10 million metric tons.

The top exporters of Ukrainian wheat today are the Russians. Count it as one more injustice in Vladimir Putin’s cruel war of conquest.

Russian forces targeted at least two large grain terminals Wednesday in the port of Mykolaiv. Western governments claim Russia is carrying out a campaign to degrade Ukraine’s ability to export food.

Food is essential to sustaining life and will ultimately be the key to rebuilding Ukraine’s future. 

The Russia-Ukraine conflict threatens to upend world trade.

Diesel prices are causing sticker shock, as fears of a possible diesel shortage are growing. It’s not just retail diesel prices that are rapidly rising. Some farmers report booking off-road diesel for above $5.

U.S. estimates show global wheat levels are stockpiled at 33% of annual consumption. Gro Intelligence says the world’s numerous economic crises prove government estimates are “not adding up.”

Tensions between Russia and the West are escalating as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow would strike new targets if the U.S. supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine, according to Russian state media.

Participants who seek this one-time, voluntary termination do not have to repay rental payments. But they must make requests for voluntary termination in writing through their local USDA office.

Russia is ready to provide a humanitarian corridor for vessels carrying food to leave Ukraine, in return for the lifting of some sanctions, Interfax news agency reported, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.