5/16/2023

May 16, 2023


Heavy selling across commodities and stocks today resulted in sharp losses in corn and soybeans. The USDA's weekly crop progress report showed substantial gains in planting and numbers well ahead of 5-year averages. Corn planting is estimated at 65% complete (68% trade, 49% week ago, 45% year ago, 59% avg). Soybean planting is estimated at 49% complete (51% trade, 35% week ago, 27% year ago, 36% avg). The pressure from planting progress is likely compounding on the market when we take a look at areas that are the furthest ahead of their averages. Planting paces in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa are blowing ahead of the rest of the crop growing region. North Dakota is the only the state significantly behind its 5-year average pace. The 2023 new crop contract months traded their lowest marks in 17 months today. We are now testing support on Dec 23 corn at 500'0 and Nov 23 soybeans at 1200'0.

With the corn balance sheet looking it will be going from tight to large, we should get some nice opportunities to roll hedges forward. The Dec:Mar corn spread closed at a 10 cent carry and should continue to weaken going forward. Rolling at 11-12 cents would be right in line with the historical average and 13-14 cents would be a premium.
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Oct 09, 2026
USDA Report Update:
Well, the USDA gave us an absolute shocker this morning and raised the corn yield up to 181.2 bpa vs 178.5 in September.  The average trade guess was lower at 177.7 bpa.  The carryout is now up to 1.849 billion bushels vs 1.567 in September.  They raised Exports up 25 million, Feed and residual up 50 million and Ethanol up 50 million.  Corn is currently down 28 cents on this news.  This is an absolute shocker to the corn market. 
Sep 11, 2026
It is USDA report day and it seemed like one of the most important reports we have had in a while.  The USDA placed corn yield at 178.5 bpa vs an average guess of 178.2.  They were in line with expectations and admitting we have an issue brewing.  This likely won’t be our lowest yield we see, but it at least drew a line in the sand for a starting point. 
Jul 10, 2026
USDA report day was slightly friendly to the grain markets.
Corn:
25/26 corn carryout was pegged at 2.020 billion bushels vs an average guess of 2.073 billion.  The main changes to this year’s balance sheet had feed and residual usage up 150 million bushels while they decreased ethanol by 25 million bushels.  Corn Yield for next year was estimated at 183 bushel per acre, which was about as expected.