Global Ag News For March 31.2026

TOP HEADLINES

Russia increases corn exports to Turkey sevenfold this year to nearly 360,000 tonnes – Agroexport

MOSCOW. March 30 (Interfax) – Russia has exported around 360,000 tonnes of corn to Turkey since the beginning of the year and up to March 20, up sevenfold year-on-year, the Agroexport federal center said.

According to the center’s analysts, the key driver of interest in Russian corn, as well as barley, is sustained demand from Turkey’s poultry industry and feed producers. “The demand from the livestock sector is reflected in high tender activity,” the analysts said.

The Turkish Grain Board has already purchased 630,000 tonnes of feed corn this year, Agroexport said. Within the framework of the last tender dated March 16, 280,000 tonnes were contracted for delivery in the second half of March and April.

At the same time, according to Turkish national customs data cited by Agroexport, from the beginning of the season (September 2025) to January 2026, corn imports (excluding seed) into the country decreased to 1.3 million tonnes from 1.9 million tonnes in the same period of the previous season. However, it is important to note that the bulk occurred in December-January, after the introduction in November 2025 of a quota for duty-free imports of 1 million tonnes of corn, the analysts said.

The main suppliers of corn to Turkey are Russia and Ukraine, while the share of Russian exporters in the structure of Turkish imports from September 2025 to January 2026 increased from 13% to 17%. If demand from Turkey’s livestock sector persists, the approval of a new quota for duty-free corn imports is quite likely in the foreseeable future, analysts said.

 

FUTURES & WEATHER

Wheat prices overnight are up 3 1/4 in SRW, up 1 3/4 in HRW, down 0 in HRS; Corn is down 1/2; Soybeans up 3 1/4; Soymeal up $0.60; Soyoil up 0.18.

For the week so far wheat prices are up 5 1/2 in SRW, down 2 3/4 in HRW, up 0 in HRS; Corn is down 6 1/2; Soybeans up 4; Soymeal up $0.10; Soyoil up 0.95.

For the month to date wheat prices are up 18 3/4 in SRW, up 47 1/2 in HRW, up 3/8 in HRS; Corn is up 6 3/4; Soybeans down 7 3/4; Soymeal down $5.00; Soyoil up 6.80.

Year-To-Date nearby futures are up 20.4% in SRW, up 22.4% in HRW, up 13.0% in HRS; Corn is up 3.5%; Soybeans up 12.9%; Soymeal up 7.1%; Soyoil up 42.2%.

Chinese Ag futures (MAY 26) Soybeans up 45 yuan; Soymeal down 18; Soyoil up 26; Palm oil up 144; Corn down 8 — Malaysian Palm is up 57.

Malaysian palm oil prices overnight were up 57 ringgit (+1.19%) at 4829.

There were no changes in registrations. Registration total: 34 SRW Wheat contracts; 93 Oats; 641 Corn; 523 Soybeans; 1,536 Soyoil; 213 Soymeal; 108 HRW Wheat.

Preliminary changes in futures Open Interest as of March 30 were: SRW Wheat up 3,302 contracts, HRW Wheat down 3,676, Corn up 8,424, Soybeans up 2,748, Soymeal up 7,259, Soyoil up 8,868.

 

DAILY WEATHER HEADLINES: 30 MARCH 2026

• NORTH AMERICA: A cyclone will bring rounds of severe thunderstorms and rains to the Corn Belt over the next couple days, boosting soil moisture levels ahead of spring plantings
• SOUTH AMERICA: Warm Argentina temperatures will facilitate the corn/soybean harvest through the next 5 days, but cool conditions will arrive thereafter
• EAST ASIA: Warm and dry conditions over south/central China through the next couple weeks will support rapid winter wheat development as prior rains will still provide ample moisture
• SOUTH ASIA: Increasingly cool temperatures across India through the next 10-15 days will be favorable for wheat harvesting
• TELECONNECTIONS: West Pacific trade winds strengthened in February, but have weakened since that time which is in support of a potential El Niño trajectory

 

WET SPELLS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE PAMPAS, WHILE CENTRAL BRAZIL REMAINS DRY

Weather Anomaly Severity: High

Crops impacted: corn, soybeans, coffee, sugar

Preferred model for the next 5 days: EC Op

Preferred model for the 6-15 day timeframe: EC Ens

Forecast confidence: High through the next 10 days; moderate in 11-15-days

Model Change (from previous update):  Wetter for South Brazil

Significant weather anomalies and crop impact:

Argentina/Paraguay

• The Pampas will see warmer weather (1-4 °C above normal) over the next 5-days, followed by cool (1 °C below normal) conditions in the 6–15‑day period. Paraguay will remain warmer than normal throughout the entire 15‑day outlook.
• The Pampas corn and soybean belts are forecast to see wet conditions (10–50 mm above normal), while the far northern Pampas/Northeast Argentina may experience dry spells (up to 25 mm below normal).
• Wet spells may delay corn/soybean harvesting across the southern and central Pampas, while dry weather supports harvest progress in the far northern Pampas.
• Western Paraguay will remain dry (10–40 mm below normal), supporting corn/soybean harvest progress.

Brazil

• Brazil is expected to experience warm conditions (1–3 °C above normal) over the next 15 days, followed by near‑normal to slightly cooler temperatures (1 °C below normal) in the Northeast.
• Dry weather (10-30 mm below normal) is expected across Center West Brazil, while South, Southeast, Northeast and Northwest are likely to remain wetter, with 10–100 mm above normal.
• Ongoing dry spells in Centre‑West Brazil may support first‑crop corn and soybean harvesting, but may raise concerns for second‑crop corn development.

  

Brazil – Rio Grande do Sul and Parana: Isolated showers through Friday. Temperatures above normal Monday, near to above normal Tuesday-Friday.

Brazil – Mato Grosso, MGDS and southern Goias: Isolated showers through Friday. Temperatures near to above normal through Friday. 

Argentina – Cordoba, Santa Fe, Northern Buenos Aires: Isolated to scattered showers through Friday. Temperatures above normal through Friday.

Argentina – La Pampa, Southern Buenos Aires: Isolated to scattered showers through Friday. Temperatures above normal through Wednesday, near to above normal Thursday-Friday. 

Northern Plains: Mostly dry Tuesday. Isolated to scattered showers Wednesday-Friday. Temperatures below normal Tuesday-Friday. Outlook: Isolated to scattered showers Saturday. Isolated showers Sunday-Wednesday. Temperatures near to below normal Saturday-Sunday, near to above normal Monday-Wednesday.

Central/Southern Plains: Isolated to scattered showers Tuesday-Friday. Temperatures near to well above normal Tuesday, below normal north and above normal south Wednesday-Friday. Outlook: Isolated to scattered showers Saturday. Mostly dry Sunday-Wednesday. Temperatures near to below normal Saturday-Sunday, near to above normal Monday-Tuesday, above normal Wednesday.  

Midwest – West: Isolated to scattered showers Monday night-Friday. Temperatures above to well above normal Monday, near to above normal Tuesday, near to below normal north and above normal south Wednesday-Friday.

Midwest – East: Isolated to scattered showers Monday night-Friday. Temperatures above to well above normal Monday-Tuesday, near to well above normal Wednesday-Friday. Outlook: Isolated to scattered showers Saturday-Sunday. Mostly dry Monday-Wednesday. Temperatures near to above normal Saturday, near to below normal Sunday-Monday, near normal Tuesday, above normal Wednesday.

 

The player sheet for 3/30 had funds: net buyers of 2,000 contracts of SRW wheat, sellers of 11,000 corn, buyers of 1,500 soybeans, sellers of 0 soymeal, and buyers of 7,000 soyoil.

TENDERS

• CORN SALE: The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed private sales of 145,000 metric tons of U.S. corn for shipment to unknown destinations in the 2025/26 marketing year.
• RICE SALE: South Korea’s state-backed Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. purchased an estimated 11,110 metric tons of rice expected to be sourced from the United States in an international tender seeking up to 74,382 tons which closed on March 11, European traders said on Monday.
• WHEAT TENDER: Tunisia’s state grains agency issued an international tender to purchase an estimated 100,000 metric tons of soft milling wheat, European traders said. The wheat can be sourced from optional origins. The deadline for submission of price offers is March 31, they said.

PENDING TENDERS

• WHEAT TENDER: Jordan’s state grain buyer issued an international tender to buy up to 120,000 metric tons of milling wheat that can be sourced from optional origins, European traders said. The deadline for submission of price offers in the tender is March 31.

 

 

 

 

TODAY

US Winter Wheat Crop Conditions by State for March 29: USDA

The following shows the most current winter wheat conditions for selected states as of March 29, according to the USDA’s state crop progress and conditions reports.

• Kansas conditions declined 6 percentage points to 40% good/excellent in the week ending March 29
• Oklahoma conditions slipped by 1 percentage point, and Texas conditions down by 2 points from the previous week

 

US Inspected 1.79m Tons of Corn for Export, 586k of Soybeans

In week ending March 26, according to the USDA’s weekly inspections report.

• Soybeans: 586k tons vs 1,115k the previous wk, 818k a yr ago
• Wheat: 364k tons vs 459k the previous wk, 502k a yr ago
• Corn: 1,790k tons vs 1,703k the previous wk, 1,718k a yr ago

 

US Corn, Soybean, Wheat Inspections by Country: March 26

Following is a summary of USDA inspections for week ending March 26 of corn, soybeans and wheat for export, from the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, known as GIPSA.

• Soybeans for China-bound shipments made up 270k tons of the 586k total inspected
• Mexico was the top destination for corn inspections, Japan led in wheat

 

US CROP EXPORTS: 145,000 Tons of Corn to Unknown Buyers

The US Department of Agriculture on Monday announces export sales activity on its website:

• The sale is for the 2025-26 marketing year

 

Brazil 2025/26 Soy Harvest 75% Done as of Mar. 26: AgRural

Brazil’s soybean harvest reached 75% of planted area as rains slowed fieldwork in late regions, while drought-hit Parana faces losses in the second corn crop, according to an emailed statement.

• Soy harvest up from 68% week earlier; trails 82% year ago
• Drought, heat cut safrinha corn in western Parana
• Safrinha corn planting reaches 99% in Center-South
• AgRural cuts 2025/26 corn output to 135.7m tons from 136.2m
• AgRural raises 2025/26 soy output estimate to 178.4m tons from 178m

 

Brazil Biodiesel Blend Decision Risks Delay on Pending Tests

Brazil risks delaying a decision on raising the biodiesel blend to the second half of 2027 if no urgency measure is taken, says Jerônimo Goergen, president of biofuels producers’ group Aprobio.

• That’s due to a proposed schedule of technical tests, with the industry still awaiting the beginning studies, Goergen says on the sidelines of a conference in Sao Paulo
• Industry is calling for a decision by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that could speed implementation: Goergen
• Brazil currently has a biodiesel blending mandate of 15%, and initial expectations were that an increase to 16% could occur this March
  • NOTE: Brazilian legislation approved in 2024 determined that biodiesel mandates should rise gradually until 2030, but a final decision still depends on technical analysis, including by the country’s National Energy Policy Council
• Aprobio says soy crushers and biodiesel plants have enough installed capacity to support a blending mandate of as much as a 22%

 

Malaysia March Palm Oil Exports Rise to 1.607m Tons: AmSpec

Malaysia’s palm oil exports rose to 1.607m tons in March from 1.025m tons in February, according to AmSpec Agri.

• Palm oil exports rose 56.72% m/m versus -25.46% in February

 

Malaysia March Palm Oil Exports +44.29% M/m: Intertek

Following is a summary of Malaysia’s March palm oil exports according to Intertek Testing Services.

• Total exports for March 2026: 1.658m tons
• Crude palm oil exports: 246,845 tons, 14.9% of total

 

Romania reaps record high 12.69 million tonnes of wheat, yields recover – stats office

Romania’s production of wheat, maize and sunflower rose by double digits from a year earlier in 2025 as yields recovered after one of the country’s worst droughts in 2024, preliminary data from the National Statistics Board showed on Tuesday.

The European Union state put 2.3 million hectares under wheat and reaped 12.69 million tonnes of the crop, a record high and up 36.6% from a year earlier. The 2025 wheat harvest beat 2021’s bumper crops.

Drought and heatwaves in 2024 hurt crops in Romania and other parts of Europe, with maize and sunflower seeds suffering double-digit losses. But regular rain this season, including in April and May, has helped ease dryness.

Romania’s 2025 maize harvest stood at 7.75 million tonnes, up 29.8% from a year earlier, while sunflower seed production was 2.06 million tonnes, up 36.5%.

The country is among the EU’s largest grain sellers and an active exporter, with Egypt as a main buyer. In 2025, it was the EU’s top sunflower seed producer and its third-biggest for maize, the statistics office said.

Romania’s coalition government could approve this week a support scheme for farmers to mitigate the economic fallout of the war on Iran. The scheme, worth some 620 million lei ($139.5 million), will be valid throughout 2026 and will enable farmers to buy tax-free diesel up to certain limits per hectare.

 

India tapping alternative sources to boost fertilizer stocks, official says

India has adequate stocks of fertilizers and is tapping alternative sources to boost supplies for the summer-sown crops, a senior government official in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said on Monday.

The Gulf region accounted for about 20% to 30% of India’s urea imports and 30% of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) prior to the Iran war, Aparna Sharma, additional secretary in the ministry, told a media briefing.

India expects to need 39 million metric tons of fertiliser in the summer sown crop season, with current stocks at about 18 million tons compared to 14.7 million tons a year ago, she said.

“Further Proactive measures have been taken up to diversify our sourcing bases other than the Gulf countries like Russia, Morocco, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan, Canada, Algeria, Egypt and Togo among others,” Sharma said.

As part of such efforts Indian companies have signed several long-term deals to reduce their dependence on imports from the Middle East that include 2.8 million ton from Russian for supplies from Cape of Good Hope.

India also floated a global tender for import of 1.3 million ton of urea in mid-February, according to a government statement.

India’s six-month summer-sown crop season starts in April.

“April and May are a lean period and India uses the two months for building stocks,” Sharma said.

However, India’s current monthly urea production is at 1.8 million tons compared to a typical 2.4 million ton as some plants are only now restarting from annual maintenance, she said.

India, which relies on the Middle East for about 50% of its liquefied natural gas imports, which is a critical feedstock for fertilisers, has also been hit by higher global prices of the crop nutrients and freight rates, Sharma said.

Despite rising global prices, the federal government is continuing to sell urea and DAP at subsidised rates.

 

Russia overhauls vaccine production after cattle disease triggers mass culling

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday overhauling the production of animal vaccines following an outbreak of cattle disease that led to the deeply unpopular mass culling of livestock in a Siberian region.

The deaths of thousands of animals in Novosibirsk region sparked rare protests in wartime Russia and prompted calls by farmers for the resignation of top government officials overseeing agriculture.

Putin’s decree merged several state-owned enterprises in different parts of the country into one entity – the Russian Biological Industry Company.

It said the measure was aimed at “securing technological independence, sustainable development, and encouraging investment in the field of veterinary medicine”.

Russian authorities have blamed pasteurellosis and rabies for the outbreak that has spread to other areas. The head of a local state veterinary service also said that irregular vaccination on local small farms had led to a mutation of the pathogen.

In a report published on March 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service cited “local sources and trading contacts” who alleged that “the scale of these measures may indicate an unconfirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease”.

It added that the authorities’ response to the outbreak “raised concerns about the adequacy of current vaccines and the potential impact on Russia’s cattle trade”.

Russia’s agriculture watchdog dismissed the allegations in the U.S. report and said that planned vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease have been carried out in the Novosibirsk region since 2022 and are routinely monitored by the agency.

Russia imported up to 70% of its animal vaccines before 2022, when it was hit by Western sanctions in response to its military action in Ukraine.

In 2024, agriculture watchdog chief Sergei Dankvert said the situation had reversed, with up to 70% of vaccines being produced domestically.

The agency said that Russia’s leading producer, Shchelkovo Biokombinat, one of the companies now being merged, was expected to increase production tenfold in 2024 compared with 2021.

 

 

 

Interested in more futures markets?  Explore our Market Dashboards here.