May 18 (Bloomberg) -- Wheat production in Australia, the world's third-largest exporter, may rebound to a record as rain encourages farmers to resume planting after a drought ravaged crops last year. Output of wheat, canola and barley tumbled more than 60 percent last year because of one the worst droughts in Australia in 100 years. Cattle prices rose for a fourth day as rain this week encouraged farmers in the world's second-largest beef exporter to hold back livestock from sale, said...

The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) warned Friday the lingering drought will damage the year's summer crop output, but analysts say the country's grain crop prices won't be much affected. If the drought continues in wheat producing areas, China will be unable to reach its summer crop targets," said a MOA statement. But the official forecast has not yet been released," an agency spokeswoman told Xinhua by phone, adding that similar surveys are under way in other drought-hit regions. Summer...

NST Online Local News 2007/05/20 Health Ministry issues wheat gluten alert Email to friend Print article KUALA LUMPUR: There has been no report of melamine-tainted wheat gluten entering the human food chain, but the Health Ministry is not taking any chances. NST Online Local News 2007/05/20 Health Ministry issues wheat gluten alert Email to friend Print article KUALA LUMPUR: There has been no report of melamine-tainted wheat gluten entering the human food chain, but the Health Ministry is...

and world supply and consumption forecast on May 11 as supportive for corn, soybeans, and wheat price prospects, said a University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist. Based on March planting intentions, a forecast of acreage harvested for grain, and the trend yield calculation, the 2007 crop is projected at 12. The projection this year is about two bushels less than expected by the market, but is about 1.5 bushels above a projection based on the simple linear trend from 1960...

Weather forecasts through May 10 indicate the crop will get planted at about an average pace, therefore the market is slowly removing weather premium from prices. This is when seasonal price trends turn lower as the market prepares for the impending winter wheat harvest. WHEAT Wheat futures have rallied sharply so far in the month of April due to frost damage that occurred over the Easter weekend. Funds have been selling long positions, as the technical trend of the market has turned lower...