Chicago | Reuters – U.S. wheat futures rose on Wednesday, led by gains in the K.C. hard red winter wheat contracts, on concerns about crop damage in key American growing regions resulting from cold weather and sparse snow cover, traders said.
The most-active K.C. hard red winter wheat contract, which hit a six-week high, notched its fifth straight day of gains following a government report that crop conditions in the U.S. Plains deteriorated during December. K.C. wheat has risen 4.8 percent during its stretch of higher closes.
Read Also
Alberta crop conditions improve: report
Varied precipitation and warm temperatures were generally beneficial for crop development across Alberta during the week ended July 8, according to the latest provincial crop report released July 11.
Subzero temperatures and forecasts for continued dryness raised the prospect of a reduced harvest.
“The farmers we talked to indicate that if the crop is hurt at all, they are more apt to tear it up and plant something else in its place (this spring),” said Brian Hoops, president of Midwest Market Solutions.
Soybean futures also were firm, underpinned by strength in crude oil as well as concerns about dry conditions in No. 3 exporter Argentina that are cutting into yield potential.
Corn futures weakened after touching a four-week high, with rally attempts stifled by technical selling.
K.C. hard red winter wheat for March delivery settled up 6-1/4 cents at $4.41 a bushel. The most-active contract peaked at $4.41-1/2, its highest since Nov. 22.
CBOT March soft red winter wheat futures were 2-1/2 cents higher at $4.36 a bushel.
The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Tuesday afternoon that winter wheat in Kansas, the top production state for the grain, was rated 37 percent good to excellent, down from 51 percent at the end of November. A year ago, the state’s winter wheat crop was rated 44 percent good to excellent.
CBOT March corn futures ended down 1/4 cent at $3.53 a bushel. Prices firmed early but weakened after failing to break through the 50-day moving average.
CBOT March soybean futures were 4 cents higher at $9.68-3/4 a bushel.
Argentina’s breadbasket province of Buenos Aires will remain mostly dry in the days ahead, meteorologists said on Tuesday, after reporting scant rain over the weekend.
– Additional reporting by Colin Packham in Sydney and Gus Trompiz in Paris.
