Grain Council Report March 2025

Grain Prices 

Prices for native grain, in general, have remained relatively firm in recent weeks. Prices reported to IFA for dried wheat and barley are outlined in the table below. Global grain markets are far more uncertain in the past two weeks. MATIF wheat futures for May-25 have lost €13.75/t in the past two trading weeks. This is primarily driven by geopolitical tensions resulting from tariffs/customs duties being announced for imports between China, USA and Canada. Currency exchange values are also impacting prices, with the dollar/euro rate reaching $1.085 which is further depressing EU prices. At a fundamental level wheat markets remain adequately supplied, with better crop conditions in the EU compared to this time last year and the area expected to grow by 2% overall in the USA. Chicago maize prices in the US had recovered strongly to date in 2025 on news that ending stocks were likely to reach a 10-year low. However, this is expected to precipitate a higher planted area in 2025, which coupled with tariffs on key importers such as Mexico, could lead to a return to more downward pressure in the coming weeks and months. 

Commodity	€/t April/May 2025	€/t Nov/Dec 25 Dried
IRL Feed Wheat¹	245-250	240-245
IRL Feed Barley¹	230-235	230
Paris MATIF Wheat²	223.50	231.50
Paris Oilseed Rape	485.50	472.75
Maize ex. Port	245	230-235

Activity Since Last National Council

• Two meetings of the National Grain Committee have been held in 2025, on January 16^th and March 6^th respectively.
• The National Grain Chairman and Grain Policy Executive attended a meeting of the Food Vision Tillage Group in Backweston on February 7^th.
• A malting barley committee meeting was held in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel on January 21^st.
• The IFA malting Barley Committee met with Boortmalt on February 27^th to discuss the fixed price offer of €230/t and contract cut announcements. 
• A Munster regional tillage meeting was held on February 19^th in Corrin Mart, Fermoy, with guest speakers from DAFM, Bank of Ireland and farmer Rob Coleman on the night. 
• IFA organised a national malting barley growers meeting on March 10^th. Boortmalt’s Stuart Sands and Jonathan Roberts addressed the audience. 

Future Activities

• The National Grain Chairman and Grain Policy Executive will attend the Copa Cogeca Cereals and Oilseeds Working Party online
• A meeting on nitrates and water quality issues relating to the tillage sector will take place with Ted Massey at Backweston Farm on March 21^st. 
• The National Grain Chairman and Grain Policy Executive will meet with Goldcrop to discuss seed prices and contracts for growers.