It looks like September was one for the record books with what might have been the warmest and driest since records began, not to mention Collingwood tying with Essendon and Carlton with 16 grand final wins on the last day of the month.
Hopefully, by the time you have picked up this week's edition, you will have had the opportunity to tip a few millimetres out of the rain gauge, but after the heat and wind from the start of the week, the crops might not look like they had much of a drink at all.
The International Grains Council lowered global wheat production by one million tonnes to 783 million tonnes this week, with the drier southern hemisphere outlook.
Global prices remain under pressure from cheaper Russian competition in recent Egyptian and Algerian tenders and Ukrainian wheat making its way to the market regardless of a Black Sea agreement with Russia.
Australian prices remain at a $70/t to $100/t premium to US futures driven by domestic demand.
US corn futures fell to three-year lows, pressured by Brazilian export competition and a lack of US export sales as their harvest ramps up.
Australian barley prices remain firm, supported by east coast feedlots, as our production is priced out of most export destinations by cheaper Black Sea barley.
Oilseed markets continue the roller coaster ride, with the Canadian canola harvest coming to an end and the US soybean harvest picking up pace.
Seasonal harvest pressure continues to weigh heavily on international soy and vegetable oil prices.
With another nearly five million tonnes of Australian production, new crop prices will remain under pressure if growers start selling off the header to cover cashflow requirements at harvest time.
Harvest is continuing to pick up pace in Central Queensland, with the quality of wheat and chickpeas being reported so far as good.
Harvesting of barley in the Northern and Western Downs has begun around the edges and will likely pick up pace quickly, and wheat is likely to have started in recent days.
With little new crop grower selling, Downs markets for both barley and wheat eased last week.
End users are holding sufficient coverage and are content to watch the harvest unfold, pick off the odd parcel here and there and engage with those growers happy to sell for delivery in January/February onwards.
Harvest is creeping into NSW, with canola around Moree being harvested or windrowed.
Lower yields and a drop in oil quality against the last couple of seasons are being seen, but to be expected given the dry finish, while some cereal and canola crops in the Central West have been cut for hay.
A more general start to the harvest is still at least a week away. Southern parts of NSW will receive the most benefit from the forecast rain, hopefully putting a floor in expected yields, which have been sliding under increased heat and a lack of moisture.
Western Victoria and South Australia seem likely to miss out on the rainfall but have been more fortunate than most in recent times.
Expect to see more harvesting around Thevenard and Port Pirie this week with favourable conditions.
Record temperatures forecast for parts of Western Australia will likely see their crops finish quickly.
