Organic corn prices in the mid-west are picking up slightly as farmers are determined to get higher prices. While the lack of sales activity has kept prices above the $6 per bushel handled and has allowed them to edge higher into the $6.25/$6.50 range, there could be an impetus to push them higher. Organic corn prices on the west coast have been edging slightly higher according to merchandisers, moving up from levels near $320 per short ton up to $330/$335 per short ton. Prices of organic cracked corn that are coming into the west coast have also been rising in conjunction with rising conventional prices in the black sea region.

Organic corn price in the black sea region has been steady, rising slightly to 235 euros per metric ton or $277 per metric ton. This compares to conventional prices which have increased to $218 per metric ton (see futures prices).

This has contracted the premiums over conventional which has been the case in the United States. The recent pullback of approximately $0.2 per bushel on CME corn has been mimicked in the Black Sea region. The underlying issues which include a drawdown in Chinese grain reserves and crop failures might continue to put upward pressure on conventional corn prices. This could buoy organic cracked corn prices which might put upward pressure on organic corn prices.