In the second edition of this book, Michael Atkin examines the political and economic dynamics of the international trade, explaining to the reader how the industry works and producing an understanding of the many ironies that are apparent in the trade of this vital commodity. This edition also takes into account a number of recent developments that have affected, or promise to affect, the grain trade such as the collapse of the USSR and the completion of the Uruguay Round at GATT.

The mood of the international grain market changed remarkably in the decade before this book was originally published in 1986. In the early 1970s, which were years of buoyancy and high prices, the concern was with feeding the starving millions and subsequently, in the United states, with the use of the grain embargo weapon to put pressure on the Soviet Union. In the mid-1980s, after a long period in which the recession kept prices down, the climate was much gloomier. The book considers the state of the major supplier countries and their particular problems. It charts the changes in the market and discusses major issues of international concern. It concludes by surveying prospects for the market.

"It is difficult to imagine how the evolution of an industry, through the perspective of one of its giants, could be better told". -- Tarrant Business

Updated content in 2018! (Including e-book friendly charts and tables.) Despite being excited by and interested in the grain markets, many participants crave a better understanding of them. Now there is a book to deliver that understanding in ways that could help you make money trading grain.Elaine Kub uses her talents for rigorous analysis and clear, approachable communication to offer this 360-degree look at all aspects of grain trading. From the seasonal patterns of modern grain production, to grain futures' utility as an investment asset, to the basis trading practices of the grain industry's most successful companies, Mastering The Grain Markets unveils something for everyone.The key to profitable grain trading, Kub argues, is building knowledge about the fundamental practices of the industry. To demonstrate the paramount importance of such intelligence, she uses anecdotes, clear examples, and her own experiences as a futures broker, market analyst, grain merchandiser, and farmer. The result is an immensely readable book that belongs in the hands of every investor, grain trader, farmer, merchant, and consumer who is interested in how profits are really made.

Extract: The main grain-exporting countries may cooperate more closely in the eighties than in the past. In addition, there may be incentives to vary the policies of the marketing boards in Australia and Canada and increased internal pressure for the United States to sever the link between world grain prices and its domestic prices. Those are some possible consequences if forecasts of higher and less stable grain prices in the eighties are realized and if the structure of world trade continues to move toward more bilateral agreements and a greater role for state trading organizations.