Sponsored content: With Australian wheat and barley production down in the most recent harvest, what factors are set to influence our grain prices in the near future?

Tractors are not normally associated with stealthy getaways but a gang of crooks in Oxfordshire has got away with eight New Hollands.

There is a growing demand for malt barley from India and Australia's high quality product would fit their systems well.

SA barley growers are keeping a keen eye on the marketplace after the Chinese government imposed a dumping margin of 73.6 per cent for five years, and a subsidy margin of 6.9pc, on barley imported from Australia.

Barley producers have concerns over Australia's apparent overreliance on China as a buyer of our grain according to a Farmonline survey.

The difficulties replacing China as a buyer of Australian barley become apparent when looking at export data over the past ten years.

The recent Chinese decision to implement prohibitive tariffs on Australian barley is just the latest in a lengthy history of trade problems.

The Australian barley industry is getting close to being able to export to India but needs to overcome an obstacle regarding weed seeds.

World wheat markets are in the hands of the weather gods, creating waves in futures markets.

Just as CBOT futures looked poised to plunge last week, the Russian factor kicked in and delivered a sharp rally.