A week ago, WPI wrote about how farmers are optimistic about better markets for 2018 based on several at least somewhat positive factors. We should have waited a week.  The markets changed a lot in this holiday-shortened trading week after starting the Monday evening session strong after the long weekend. That strength disappeared during the night session, however, and markets traded lower Tuesday and have been lower since.  What’s interesting about the change is that much of the weakness was the result of outside market factors, including:

Fresh concerns about Italy’s upcoming elections and the economic outlook for that country, including the possibility Italy might leave the Euro Zone. Those Italian worries ca...