File photo of a docked grain vessel at a Black Sea port in Turkey. (Bfk92/E+/Getty Images)

U.N., Moscow discuss Russian grain, fertilizer exports

Grain not getting to poorer countries, Putin alleges

United Nations | Reuters — Senior U.N. and Russian officials met in Geneva on Wednesday to discuss Russian complaints that Western sanctions were impeding its grain and fertilizer exports despite a U.N.-brokered deal to boost Russian and Ukrainian shipments of the commodities. The United Nations, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia agreed on July 22 on what




File photo of a bulk port facility in Ukraine. (Olivia Sabeskaya/iStock/Getty Images)

U.N. chief seeks ‘spirit of compromise’ over Ukraine grain initiative

Deal sees 21 outbound ships so far

Lviv | Reuters — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine on Thursday to show a “spirit of compromise” to ensure the continued success of a U.N. brokered deal that enabled Ukraine to resume grain exports from its Black Sea ports. Guterres said after talks in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv that 21


CBOT November 2022 soybeans (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, green and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans steady

U.S. Midwest rain, Ukraine sea exports add pressure

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybeans inched higher on Wednesday, bouncing from two days of declines, though the recovery was limited by rain improving weather forecasts in the U.S. Midwest. Wheat prices fell, pressured by increased export activity from Ukraine, while corn traded near even. The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade

port of Odesa in Ukraine

Comment: Grain shipments offer dim hope

The EU should have seen the Ukraine war food and energy crises looming

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in four interrelated security crises. The war in Ukraine is a tragedy for human security, but it affects geopolitical security as well as food and energy security. These four crises have been compounded by the failure of coercive diplomacy. This is a form of diplomacy that uses either



The Sierra Leone-flagged grain ship Razoni leaves the sea port in Odesa amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, August 1, 2022. It was turned away by its buyer in Lebanon on August 9, citing delayed shipment to its previously agreed upon terms.

Comment: Ukraine’s grain exports, crop still must prove themselves

There’s potential for a lot of grain movement, but many risks remain

Reuters – The volume of grain Ukraine will have available for export over the coming year and whether those shipments can run smoothly remains to be seen, though optimism has increased with the first sea departure of a grain vessel since Russia’s invasion. Estimates across the industry vary on harvest potential, but there are suggestions,


File photo of a field of soybeans under turbines at southern Manitoba’s St. Joseph wind farm. (Dougall_Photography/iStock/Getty Images)

Russia to ban some imports of seeds from Canada, Europe

Canada's Prograin soybean seed on list

Moscow | Reuters — Russia will ban imports of some seeds from several locations in Europe and Canada from Aug. 15, its agriculture safety watchdog said on Thursday, citing non-compliance by suppliers with phytosanitary requirements as the reason. Imports of tomato and carrot seeds will be banned from a nursery of Satimex Quedlinburg, in Germany,