Grain Marketing Education, News & Strategies

Tidbits Weather: Crop Prophet reported yesterday afternoon all three major forecast models place the Western Corn Belt on the warmer and drier side of normal through early August. Russian wheat production estimate was reduced by SovEcon by 0.6 million to 88.3 million mts. This is now just below the USDA’s forecast of 88.5 million mts. Brazil’s CONAB estimated 97% of Brazil’s wheat area has been planted as of July 19, matching the five-year average. CONAB is estimating Brazil’

Tidbits Weather: Contrary to most private forecasts, the National Weather Service and 247AG predicted Saturday evening that extreme heat will return next weekend to the Central and Western Corn Belt with normal rainfall amounts. Ukraine: There are rumors that corn and wheat exporters in Ukraine will declare force majeure in Ukraine due to war damage to their grain handling equipment. “Force majeure” is a term used in contracts allowing either party to legally break th

Tidbits President Donald Trump delivered a speech to the nation yesterday from the White House with a focus on the 2020 election. He is declassifying documents that he says will show interference by China in the 2020 election. Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that there was widespread election fraud six years ago when he lost to President Joe Biden. Trump again pushed for Congress to pass legislation that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and

Tidbits Iran: President Trump will address the nation tomorrow evening to explain his Iran plan. The U.S. and Iran conducted military strikes with each other overnight. Trump said the U.S. military will continue to strike Iran in the coming days and into next week. Brazil: CONAB raised its 2025/26 Brazilian soybean production estimate a bit to 180.57 million mts, from 180.25 million mts previously. They raised their Brazilian corn production forecast 1% to 141.7 million mts.

Tidbits Super Typhoon Bavi’s near world record low barometric pressure captured the world headlines Monday morning as weather services connected the low pressure to the strong El Niño and global warming. Then pointed out the El Niño will continue to strengthen into December and January and exaggerated the potential worldwide crop production problems. The strength at the CBOT yesterday was all because of the “hype” and not because of any serious immediate crop problems. There

Tidbits Red Tape Removed: According to Brazil’s National Supply Company (Conab, a government agency), annual grain production over the past 10 years has grown by an average of nearly 7%, while storage capacity has increased only 2.4%. Currently, Brazil has the capacity to store approximately 60% to 63% of its annual grain production, more than 130 million mts less than needed. That is why their cash prices are so low during harvest; there just is no place to put the grain exc

Tidbits Flash Sale: Yesterday, the USDA reported sales of 120,000 mts of old crop corn to unknown destinations. Yesterday’s corn market action was not nearly as bullish as we hoped after losing 38¢ in 13 days, a “hook reversal” on Monday, the crop ratings after the close Monday afternoon were not as good as the market expected, and another corn flash sale yesterday morning. None-the-less, there were some positive indicators yesterday for the corn market: The lead futures mont

Tidbits Brazilian AgrInvest Commodities reported on 6 June: The recent highlight is the change in the exchange rate, which has gained momentum and become the main variable of attention. The appreciation of the dollar improves export parity and may limit further declines in the domestic market, especially if combined with possible reactions in Chicago, firmer oil prices, or weather risks in the US. Thus, although the current scenario is still one of adjustment, the market is o

Tidbits U.S. Crops: On this date in 2018, December corn futures made its high at $4.29. Its low was made on 18 September at $3.42. Four of the last six years, December corn made its high for the year before this date. Parts of the Eastern Corn Belt received more than 3 inches (76 mm) in the 36 hours ending yesterday at midnight. University of Illinois ag economists report soybeans have turned profitable for Illinois farmers while corn remains in the red. Dr. Michael Cor

Tidbits After corn and beans were up four consecutive days ending Wednesday and wheat up three consecutive days ending on Tuesday after a very bullish wheat news from USDA, all three markets were due for a correction (profit taking) yesterday. Wheat also had more serious technical and seasonal price trend reasons to fall sharply. Wednesday evening, corn, beans and KC wheat trended slightly higher until about 1 AM but failed to come close to Wednesday highs awaiting news from

Tidbits After Iran rejected the U.S. proposal to end the war, on Sunday, President Trump rejected Iran's counter response to the U.S. proposal. Crude oil opened $2.77 higher at $98.19 last evening and then traded as high as $98.85 in the first hour of trading and higher from there. Iranian state media said the response focused on ending the war on all fronts and on the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz without indicating how or when the waterway might reopen

Tidbits Brazil: Weekend comments from AgrInvest Commodities: Weather models have reduced expectations for widespread rainfall in Goiás and Minas Gerais, while concerns are growing about possible frosts in southern Brazil over the weekend, especially in areas growing second-crop corn in Paraná. In the physical market, Goiás is expected to register lower production, while domestic consumption continues to advance with the expansion of corn ethanol, reducing Brazil's export pote

Tidbits Iran’s military said United States forces targeted an Iranian oil tanker in coastal waters and a second vessel near the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah port, while U.S. air strikes hit civilian areas in southern Iran. The U.S. military’s Central Command said its naval forces came under Iranian missile, drone and fast-boat attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump described the attacks on Iranian targets as a “love tap”, telling U.S. broadcast media that “

Tidbits Mexico is building a land-bridge between its two oceans that is already partially working and nearing completed. It will not replace the Panama Canal, but it could carve out a meaningful niche in global trade, especially for North American supply chains. A major infrastructure project is designed to be a land-based alternative (often called a “dry canal”) to the Panama Canal. It is the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), a multimodal rail-and

Tidbits Flash Sale: Yesterday morning, the USDA announced the sale of 130,000 mts of old crop corn to unknown. Crops Survey: The USDA plans to survey more farmers for some of its key U.S. crop reports ​following a drop in the response rate for its March 31 plantings report, being at 37.6%, down ​from 44.3% last year and the lowest on record for that survey. The USDA faced criticism over the reliability of its data ​after making unprecedented increases in January to corn acrea

Tidbits Brazil: Pátria Agronegócios is a consulting service for the soybean and corn markets based in Goiania, Goias, Brazil. Their weather comments yesterday: “Forecasts indicate dry weather over the next 15 days in key regions such as Goiás, Minas Gerais, and northern São Paulo. This raises an important alert, especially since about 40% of the second crop was planted outside the ideal window. On the other hand, Mato Grosso has crops in excellent condition, which limits any

Tidbits Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Iran said it was responding to a continued U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, calling it a violation of their ceasefire, while Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran's navy ‌was ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on its enemies. At least two Indian flagged vessels carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil were hit while trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Iranian State media quoted the Supreme National

Tidbits Planting Feedback: Jeff in Minnesota sent us this information yesterday morning: “Friend of mine around Charleston (far southeast) Missouri called last night. Record heat temps along with dry soils. Planting corn 2.5” deep to get in moisture. And he is a no till guy. He said guys around there planted all their corn in 4 days.” Brazilian agency CONAB estimated yesterday total corn production 1.3 million higher, at 139.6 million mts, but below last year’s 141.2 million.

Tidbits Crude oil prices drop and stocks rally after Trump’s ceasefire announcement. China intervened at the last minute and persuaded Iran to agree to a two-week ceasefire, The New York Times reported, citing Iranian officials. Still, the ceasefire hasn't really clarified anything when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz. Some, maybe most of the reason for the weakness of corn and soybean markets is the fear of Thursday’s monthly S&D, which is typical every month. Brazil soy ha

Highlights Biofuel: Jarrett Renshaw is a White House reporter for Reuters with a focus on energy policy. He reported late yesterday afternoon: “The Trump administration will release biofuel quotas 2026/27 this week, sometime before Friday's farm event at White House. The quotas have not been materially changed by Iran war price spike concerns, I'm told.” Later yesterday, Renshaw reported: “Trump is expected to waive summer gasoline blending rules - pave way for summer E15 sal