Corn
Planting more cover crops this fall is one way corn and soybean growers are addressing their 2026 nutrient needs and looking to trim expenses in the process.
Mike Zuzolo with Global Commodity Analytics says soybean futures closed slightly higher on Monday as trade tensions with China seemed to ease over the weekend. However, he says the soybean market doesn’t totally trust that a deal is going to take place.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says November feeder cattle futures were up over $20 last week and have led the rally on strong cash, tight supplies and the continued cases of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico keeping the border shut.
Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group, says the trade news was a game changer for the market. After calling an early low in corn and soybeans, he says Friday’s news and trade action has changed his opinion and he has turned bearish.
Jim McCormick with AgMarket.Net says the soybean market reacted negatively as it was pinning its hopes on a trade deal that included purchases at the end of October when the two leaders met at the APEC summit.
Basis levels improved this week, with some analysts saying it could have been from China buying, even if the government shutdown means no daily export sales data can offer proof. But one analyst says there is a bullish case for corn, especially considering global stocks of corn relative to use, are the tightest since the 2012 drought.
Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek says the feeder futures have put on $22 this week and were due for a correction but still project to $388. Grains see pressure from China trade news.
Matt Splitter says he has harvested more corn in the past 10 days than he did during the last two seasons combined. But he says two straight years of drought and high input costs could keep him and other farmers in the state from reaching financial wholeness.
Dave Chatterton with Strategic Farm Marketing says corn, soybeans and wheat were all lower on Thursday after running into solid chart resistance. However, basis is firming. So, what does that signal?
As Jed Bower takes the helm at NCGA, he is working to expand market opportunities in the U.S. and abroad, and looking for practical ways to reduce regulatory burdens on farmers.
Don Roose with U.S. Commodities says soybeans ended higher for second day as it looks like the market is trying to carve out a seasonal low.
Looking back, here are the actions that have given the seasoned farmer/commodity analyst the biggest ROI over the years.
Jon Scheve with Scheve Grain says soybeans are seeing follow through buying on Wednesday as more farmers are storing soybeans this fall and waiting for an improvement in basis and/or prices with the possibility of a China trade deal.
After a season that started strong and steady, Iowa farmers are facing disappointing corn yields as southern rust and heavy summer rains take a bite out of what could have been record crops.
David Hula, the reigning world-record corn grower, says residue management at harvest sets the stage for uniform emergence next season. The combine itself is a yield-building machine when used strategically.
Mark Knight, Farmer’s Keeper Financial, says soybeans are back higher early Tuesday on light technical buying but awaiting details of the Trump administration’s farmer aid package.
DuWayne Bosse, with Bolt Marketing says he was surprised at how well the corn market is handling the harvest pressure that is ramping up across the Corn Belt.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says the market is staying intact and absorbing a great deal of bearish news including last week’s lower fed cash trade and lower cutouts.
USDA’s Quarterly Stocks report on Tuesday provided a bearish surprise for the corn market.
Tommy Grisafi with Nesvick Trading says corn and soybeans saw selling late in the session on harvest pressure. However, soybeans had a higher weekly close pushed by President Trump’s renewed ideas of a China deal.
Scott Varilek with Kooima Kooima Varilek says it has been another volatile week in the cattle futures but they are still trading sideways and holding the uptrend lines. Grains are pausing after hitting chart resistance.
Bryan Doherty, Total Farm Marketing, says soybeans extended gains off of Wednesday’s reversal on technical buying and short covering but with hopes of a China deal. The trade aid announced will also keep farmer selling at a minimum.
The government is shut down for a second day and so are no reports from USDA, including weekly export sales or flash sales. So what are the grain markets trading?
Randy Martinson with Martinson Ag says grains started lower Wednesday on the government shutdown but soybeans reversed higher after President Trump’s social media post on China.
Company leaders say the separation will unleash two distinct market leaders that are both farmer-centric, with technology and innovation at their core.
Dan Basse, Ag Resource Company, says corn stocks were 207 million bu. above USDA’s projected ending stocks which was bearish for the market. Soybeans also made new lows for the move despite a slightly friendly report.
While the Trump administration weighs an economic bailout for farmers that would use tariff income, groups like ASA continue to press for better market opportunities and a trade deal with China, in particular.
At the Reints farm in northeast Iowa, corn yields have been running higher than last year, but a lot of yield potential was left in the field due to disease, specifically a rare strain of southern rust.
Mike Minor with Professional Ag Marketing says soybeans saw hedge pressure with a dry open weekend for harvest across the Midwest but corn also hit chart resistance.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says live and feeder cattle futures are higher early Monday. The cash feeder market has continued to move higher, so will it be able to lead the cattle futures back to new highs?