Will Upcoming Bad Weather Affect Wheat Prices?

 | Jan 04, 2016 07:11AM ET

Worse weather may affect crops forecasts

On December 30, 2015, the wheat prices edged up for the second straight day after they failed to hit a new 5-year low. Investors are concerned with worse weather in the US and other countries cultivating this crop. The abnormally warm start of the winter increased the chances El Nino will form in spring 2016. The effect may reduce crops significantly. Will the wheat prices continue edging up?

The US National Weather Service reported the higher risk of floods in Western Missouri and Southern Illinois. 13 people already died in these stated due to the extremely bad weather conditions and storms. Note, that Missouri, Illinois and Arkansas account for about 25% of winter wheat crops in the US. It is sowed in autumn and harvested in June and July. According to University of Illinois agronomist, the vast majority of wheat crops may fail in case the floods last more than a week. The IKAR agency stated the winter wheat crops forecast may be revised down for Russia due to the cold snap after extremely warm weather in December. The same difficulties may arise in the nearby Ukraine. Some meteorologists believe the ingoing El Nino may become the strongest in 100 years.