ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates the mechanisms and organisation of the international markets for grains. Grains include cereals, oilseeds, soya beans and rice. Grains are the fruits of relatively simple plants in the grass family. The importance of grains in the dietary requirements of all countries in the world cannot be overstated. By far the biggest and most heavily traded agricultural commodities, grains also have a long history of large price volatility and heavy interventionism. Good weather and soil conditions also promote the growth of weeds, which restrict the growth of the crop plants themselves. Coarse grains are primarily used for animal feed, although certain countries rely on them for direct human consumption. Wheat has a growing period of anything from four months for spring wheat to eight months for winter wheat. Harvesting is an important part of the production process, and its degree of mechanisation is the most visible criterion marking efficiency differences between various countries.
