Markets Now
National reporter Michelle Rook talks daily with industry analysts to break down crop and livestock commodity markets. Listen below to learn what’s happening with the markets when they open, at midday and again at close.
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Arlan Suderman, with StoneX, Inc., says soybeans are rallying on the White House interpretation of the deal which assumes China will buy 12 MMT in the next couple of months on top of the nearly 6 MMT it purchased earlier in 2025. However, he says China has not confirmed that.
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden confirms the agency is preparing assistance that will be released once the government gets back to work.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says while the cattle futures are distancing themselves from last week’s lows he isn’t sure if all of the bearish news is factored into the market yet. Meanwhile, soybeans make new highs as the White House clarifies China will buy 12 MMT in the last two months of 2025.
Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says the reaction in the soybean market following the announced trade framework between the U.S. and China provides important technical clues for future price direction.
Shawn Hackett with Hackett Financial Advisors says with China potentially buying 441 million bushels of U.S. soybeans in the next two months prices need to move a lot higher.
After an ugly pullback in the cattle market futures are trying to recover according to Scott Varilek of Kooima Kooima Varilek as cash strength is returning in the feeder cattle market.
Mark Schultz with Northstar Commodity says in response to the China deal the soybean market pushed into new highs for the move with January finally closing above the $11 mark.
Alan Bruger says USDA was assuming some sales to China in the September WASDE but he thinks the agency will need to make some revisions in their 300 million bushel ending stocks with this deal.
Allison Thompson says soybeans paused on Wednesday with January down 3/4 cent as the market faded news of China purchases as it was already priced into the market.
Lane Akre, economist with Pro Farmer, says soybeans have priced in the optimism about a China trade deal and had muted reaction to news of the first China soybean purchases of the 2025-26 marketing year.