The US House is expected to vote on Wednesday to approve the revised stimulus bill. Markets are looking for some fairly significant economic boosts from the $1.9 trillion bill.

The stronger dollar has pushed back a little on overall commodity markets, amid strong expectations for US growth, driven in part by the stimulus. Questions remain about whether markets are overpricing that potential and whether there would be a possible pullback later in the year.

US weather maps are now pushing a solid 1-1.5 inch rain event in western Kansas and the Panhandle, and 2-3+ for some parts of central and eastern Kansas.  Drought impacted areas in SW Nebraska/NW Kansas are missing out on the heavier rains, but overall there’s a lot of optimism from the coming storm.

Saudi’s SAGO barley tender over the weekend saw results out last night. SAGO bought 11 boats with prices right around US$280/t candf Red Sea, $280/t candf Gulf ports and one dearer boat from CBH on earlier shipment.  As expected it backs off well to both Aussie and Black Sea port loading, depending on arrival slot.

Updated Kansas crop conditions had winter wheat rating good-to-excellent down one point to 36 per cent.  The regular crop progress reports for the entire country will begin in April.

US weekly export inspections were fairly strong, but still mostly as expected. Corn was 1.5 million tonnes (Mt), soybeans 0.6Mt and wheat ).5Mt including 130,000t to china. Milo was 191,000t almost all to China.

Pakistan is tendering for wheat again after cancelling last time, since which prices have increased.

Rains continued moving further south in northern NSW. Totals were variable, many in the 5mm to 20mm range but there was fairly widespread coverage.

Weather maps continue to have the system filling in the rest of central NSW, but have cut back further south with more of the storm moving eastwards towards the coast.