Market Analysis
Darren Frye, Water Street Solutions, says grains close higher after the WASDE and USDA’s surprise cut in corn ending stocks by 200 million bushels.
Matt Bennett with AgMarket.Net says the agency shocked the market in the December WASDE by lowering ending stocks on corn 200 million bu. to 1.738 billion bu., with an increase in demand.
Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist for Stone X, says corn and wheat ended higher on value buying after wheat hit contract lows last week. Soybeans continue to be under pressure with favorable weather in Brazil and basis levels below the U.S.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle are working in last week’s higher fed cash cattle trade. Grains are also mostly higher adding geopolitical risk premium and ahead of the WASDE.
The first full week of trading in December can be enlightening and Gulke Group president Jerry Gulke says this year is no exception, especially after the 2024 election. However, he thinks the bulk of the bearish news may be priced into the corn market.
Bryan Doherty, Total Farm Marketing, says March corn sees a chart breakout Friday above $4.35 and posts a higher weekly close, pricing in strong demand and lower expected ending stocks in Tuesday’s WASDE.
Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle are trying to recover after a poor technical close yesterday with the help of strong cash. Corn broke above chart resistance and is being pushed by strong demand.
Dave Chatterton, Strategic Farm Marketing, says the agricultural markets saw risk off technical selling. The sentiment of the grain market in particular is bearish right now due to uncertainty tied to trade and overall policy in the new administration.
DuWayne Bosse of Bolt Marketing says soybeans are consolidating with products, despite a 30,000 MT sale of bean oil to South Korea.
John Heinberg, Total Farm Marketing, says corn failed mid-session with conflicting information about guidance being delayed for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credits, but it also hit chart resistance.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle recover Tuesday after a KS plant closure headline hurt the market. Grains see a technical bounce with a lower dollar.
Kevin Duling, KD Investors, says more tariff talk over the weekend from President-elect Trump, this time on the BRICS nations, had fund or managed money traders nervous again and pushed the dollar higher.
Jim McCormick with AgMarket.Net says Mexico, Canada and China are the top three export customers of the U.S. and account for 40% of total exports. So, if these countries retaliate it could be devasting for trade and ag markets.
Mike Minor, Professional Ag Marketing, says the markets shook off tariff talk and saw positioning end of month and before first notice day Friday.
Jim McCormick, AgMarket.Net, says corn and soybeans slid on possible tariffs being placed on Mexico, Canada and China. Wheat ends higher on short covering.
Randy Martinson, Martinson Ag, says market reaction has been muted to possible 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10% on China on the first day of the Trump administration.
Kent Beadle with Paradigm Futures says soybeans built on Friday’s bullish reversal with talk China is looking for more U.S. soybeans. Cattle had a volatile session with a bearish Cattle on Feed Report and sorting through import restrictions on Mexican cattle due to New World Screwworm.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says cattle futures shook off the bearish Cattle on Feed Report numbers with an announcement of New World Screwworm detected in Mexico. Soybeans built on the key reversal Friday on talk of China buying U.S. soybeans.
Tomm Pfitzenmaier with Summit Commodity Brokerage says farmers need to use the strong basis levels, especially on corn, to make some cash sales. However, there are options they can use to take advantage of a rally later on.
The question becomes whether threats of tariffs include barring used cooking oil imports outright or merely tariffing the product, especially from China.
Don Roose U.S. Commodities says grains were under pressure on technical selling, a lack of bullish news and the higher dollar. March soybeans made new contract lows with the lower soybean oil, favorable weather in Brazil and tariff fears.
Scott Varilek of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures are being led by the feeders and the cash market which is on fire out in the country. Grains are sliding early despite solid export business.
DuWayne Bosse of Bolt Marketing says corn and wheat held risk premium tied to the escalating conflict in the Black Sea and despite a higher dollar.
Tomm Pfitzenmaier with Summit Commodity Brokerage says grains are facing the headwind of returning strength in the U.S. dollar index and the lack of weather threats. Soybean oil losses are additionally pulling down soybeans.
Matt Bennett, AgMarket.Net, says wheat was up for a third day continuing to see short covering by managed money traders and adding war premium. However, corn could not follow with soybeans as an anchor.
Darin Newsom, Senior Market Analyst with Barchart, says wheat is higher for a third day seeing short covering and adding risk premium with tension escalating in the Black Sea and threats by Russia to use nuclear weapons.
Ted Seifried, Zaner Ag Hedge, says wheat led the rally in the grains initially on a weaker dollar and adding geopolitical premium.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says live cattle have held chart support so far even with lower cash and cutouts but feeders are the real leaders as funds continue to buy. Grains find strength on wheat’s lead and with a lower dollar.
Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing, says grains held technical support areas on Friday and saw corrective buying. She thinks the recovery can continue after Thanksgiving.
Scott Varilek, Kooima Koomia Varilek, says cattle try to recover after a lower day Thursday following lower cash and cutouts. Grains are also trying to recover with some corrective buying.