Grain futures mixed pending US crop report

South African grain futures were mixed on Monday ahead of the release of a US crop report.

The US Department of Agriculture will release a crop progress report later in the evening. A number of private reports have suggested that US farmers will shift a smaller than expected area from maize into soybeans this year‚ suggesting somewhat higher maize plantings than intended in March.

At the close of market‚ the white maize contract due for delivery in July 2015 was down R14 to R2‚595 a ton‚ the white maize contract due for delivery in September 2015 fell R15 to R2‚637 a ton and the white maize contract for delivery in December 2015 lost R12 to R2‚679 a ton.

In yellow maize‚ the contract due in July 2015 was down R5 to R2‚347 a ton‚ the September 2015 contract lost R7 to R2‚382 a ton and the December 2015 contract was down R6 to R2‚416 a ton.

Wheat futures were higher. The wheat contract due for delivery in July 2015 was up R18 to R3‚802 a ton‚ the September 2015 added R25 to R3‚831 a ton and the December 2015 wheat contract added R41 to R3‚799 a ton.