4/19/2024

Apr 19, 2024


A nice pop in the markets to end the week after a sharp rise in geopolitical tensions. Retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel took place overnight and, unfortunately, corn and soybeans need something like this to fuel a price rally. We ended Friday with the prior session’s losses erased and then some. Corn picked up 6 cents and soybeans gain 11-16 cents out to their July 25 contracts. Spreads have firmed this week as well. The USDA confirmed two export sales this morning which included: 216,500 tonnes of corn to Mexico split between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 marketing years and 121,500 tonnes of soybeans for delivery to unknown also split between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 marketing years. The was no shortage of volatility today. Crude oil ranged from 80 cents lower to nearly $5 higher. The DOW was down 500 points overnight but traded 250 points higher during the day session. Wheat ranged the 12-22 cents higher across the different classifications.

May corn futures found a very interesting spot to finish the week. Solidly above the 10-day moving average but only fractionally above the 20- and 50-day moving averages and our October trendline. If trade wants to follow through on today’s action we can see a nice round of technical buying come into the play and maybe give us a chance at challenging the current 100-day moving average. Yesterday was a gut check day for anyone bullish but today’s recovery has corn only -1 cent on the week.

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Aug 12, 2025
The USDA report today didn't treat the corn market very well.  Both corn acres and yield were higher the result has corn carryout over 2.1 billion bushels.  Corn yield was pegged at 188.8 bpa vs an estimate of 184.29 bpa.  How high is 188.8?  Well…the previous record was 179.3.  Planted corn acres were put at 97.3 million.  Total corn production is estimated at 16.742 billion bushels, which is 763 million more than the report estimates.
May 12, 2025
News broke Sunday that the USA and China have agreed to ease tensions and lower tariffs.  The US is lowering tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%.  China is lowering their import tariffs from 125% to 10%.  Talks will resume in the coming weeks.  This news had stocks, grains and oil higher overnight. Then of course we had a USDA grain report come out at 11:00 this morning.  That was also a bit friendly.
Mar 31, 2025
USDA reported corn planting acres at 95.326 million acres of corn, which would be up a little more than 5% from 2024's final number and the second highest March figure of the last ten years behind only 2020's estimate of 96.99 mil acres.  US corn stocks as of March 1st were seen at 81.51 billion bushels, which was exactly what the trade had expected and was down just over 2% from March 1 of 2024.  USDA said farmers intended to plant 83.495 million acres of soybeans, which would be down about 4% from last year and was just a hair smaller than what the trade was looking for.  March 1 soybean stocks were pegged at 1.91 billion bu's, which again was nearly exactly as the trade had expected, and was up 3.5% compared to March 1, 2024.