Grains were again in positive territory to start the day with soybeans leading the complex higher. In outside markets, the US dollar was slightly higher as were equities while crude oil was slipping lower going into the start of the day session.
USDA’s crop progress report showed on change in the condition of the US corn and soybean crops, as both held steady on the week at 74% and 73% good-to-excellent, respectively. Corn harvest came in a little below expectations with 9% of the crop harvested versus an average trade expectation of 11%. Soybean plantings were at 4%, which was inline with expectations but slightly below the 5-year average pace of 5% harvested at this time of year.
Russia is expected to harvest a grain crop of between 110 and 116 MMT this year, Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev told a conference in Moscow on Tuesday. The country's grain exports may total 35-40 million tonnes in the 2016/17 marketing year which started on July 1, he added. The ministry had previously expected the crop in a range of 113 million to 116 million tonnes
This morning Stats Canada revised higher their wheat crop forecast. They pegged all wheat output up 14.3% to 31.32 MMT vs 27.39 MMT in 2015. Canola output was seen as unchanged at 18.31 MMT as compared to the same output level in 2015.
The U.S. Federal Reserve's two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting on interest rates begins today. The meeting concludes on Wednesday with an interest rate decision due at 1 p.m. CDT.
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