The CBOT tried – and mostly succeeded – to reverse Friday’s selloff with corn, wheat, and the soy complex all turning higher to start the first full trading week of 2025. The fundamental catalysts for the day’s strength were the slide in the U.S. dollar, thanks to more trade-friendly (or at lea...
Another Trump Threat; UPF Threat; AI Threat; Africa-Land of Opportunity
Another Trump ThreatThe farm community supported Donald Trump’s election despite his pledge of tariffs that will no doubt cause retaliation against U.S. exports. Then he nominated food sector critic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to oversee the safety of the industry. Trump himself had signed the Preve...
Summary of Futures
Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.5775/bushel, up $0.07 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.405/bushel, up $0.1125 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $9.9775/bushel, up $0.06 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $307.3/short ton, down $1.3 from yes...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
2025 Outlook Last year was extremely challenging for Argentine agriculture, with sharp declines in commodity prices exacerbating the situation in recent months. The exchange rate has shifted from approximately 800 ARS/USD to 1,030 ARS/USD, while high dollar inflation has significantly incr...
Another Trump Threat; UPF Threat; AI Threat; Africa-Land of Opportunity
Another Trump ThreatThe farm community supported Donald Trump’s election despite his pledge of tariffs that will no doubt cause retaliation against U.S. exports. Then he nominated food sector critic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to oversee the safety of the industry. Trump himself had signed the Preve...
Summary of Futures
Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.5775/bushel, up $0.07 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.405/bushel, up $0.1125 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $9.9775/bushel, up $0.06 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $307.3/short ton, down $1.3 from yes...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
2025 Outlook Last year was extremely challenging for Argentine agriculture, with sharp declines in commodity prices exacerbating the situation in recent months. The exchange rate has shifted from approximately 800 ARS/USD to 1,030 ARS/USD, while high dollar inflation has significantly incr...
Summary of Futures
Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.5075/bushel, down $0.0875 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.2925/bushel, down $0.165 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $9.9175/bushel, down $0.2025 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $308.6/short ton, down $11...
Congress Certifies 2024 Election
In a joint session today, Congress certified the 2024 election results. That sets up the incoming Trump Administration to pursue an ambitious First 100 Days of executive orders and other legislative activity that will likely include many of the campaign promises he made, including significant d...
Summary of Futures
Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.5075/bushel, down $0.0875 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.2925/bushel, down $0.165 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $9.9175/bushel, down $0.2025 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $308.6/short ton, down $11...
Market Commentary: 2025 Brings Corrections for Overbought Futures
The CBOT started 2025 on a relatively strong note, but any hints of bullishness were largely erased on Friday. Ag markets across the board fell sharply on the second trading day of the new year with weak export data, South American weather, and changes on taxes on trading profits driving much o...
2025 Poultry Outlook
The poultry sector is poised for production growth in 2025, but price trends are expected to vary across products. Broiler growers in the U.S. placed 191 million chicks for meat production last week, which was up 4 percent from the last week of December 2023. Cumulative placements from the...
Export Sales
Export Sales and Shipments for December 20-26, 2024 Wheat: Net sales of 140,600 metric tons (MT) for 2024/2025--a marketing-year low--were down 77 percent from the previous week and 68 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 381,900 MT were up 2 percent from the previous...
Market Commentary: New Year, Same Trend - Corn and Beans Higher, Wheat Not
Corn and soybeans opened lower but quickly shifted back to positive territory. All three wheats were lower in overnight trading and pretty much traded lower all during the day session. There was good volume trading in HRW, cattle and feeders. March feeder cattle hit a new contract high. Lean ho...
Livestock Roundup: New Year Meat and Livestock Snapshot
Typically, prices for hams and the beef rib primal drop after Christmas, but this year, reduced slaughter has been more supportive of prices. What does that portend for 2025? Cattle slaughter last week was down 29.7 percent compared to the week prior and down 13.3 percent from year-ago le...
Summary of Futures
Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.595/bushel, up $0.01 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.4575/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $10.12/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $319.9/short ton, up $3 from yeste...