The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has lowered its global cereal production forecast for 2024 by 0.6 percent to 2,841 million tonnes, largely due to decreased predictions for maize and wheat production. The decrease in maize is attributed to smaller harvests in the European Union and the United States, while wheat production is expected to decline, particularly in the European Union, due to excess rainfall. However, rice production is expected to slightly increase, reaching a record 538.8 million tonnes. Despite the forecasted decline in cereal production, global utilization is projected to rise slightly, with wheat utilization remaining steady, and rice utilization seeing a slight increase. The report also highlights planting developments in various regions, including the Northern Hemisphere, South America, and South Africa, and notes changes in coarse cereal utilization.