Planning

Planning Started for Next Years Crop

This is the time of the year producers begin to finalize plans for next growing season, even though the crop is not even in the bin yet, but begin to make plans and place seed orders for 2027. Changes continue in the seed business, keeping track of who owns what brands can be a full-time job. In 2019, for example, …

grain stocks

Grain Stocks Report

The end of the month and the end of the quarter could make for an interesting end to the week. Hard to believe we begin the fourth quarter tomorrow. We end the third quarter today with the quarterly grain stocks report. We expect few surprises, but it is always interesting to see how much grain is still on farm storage …

grain stocks

Corn and Soybean Futures

This year’s corn and soybean crop not even in the bin yet, but bottom-line grain analysts are keeping an eye on 2027 December corn 2027 November soybean futures. A Rising tide lifts all ships. It said networks in the grain trade as well. Next December 2027 corn futures have risen from early summer lows to a 52-week high recently over …

Grain trade

A Look at the Recent Grain Trade

The grain trade looks to have found some support levels that look to hold longer term. Looking at the grain trade today, December corn holding the 5.15 level or better into next week. November soybeans 12.75 or better. And looking at the wheat trade in Chicago, December 7.18 or better. Elsewhere, that VIX or fear index on Wall Street, back …

trade

New Trade Opportunities

Australia and New Zealand are major livestock producing countries, and USDA says that could create additional opportunities for American feed products. Luke Lindberg, USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, recently traveled to both countries as part of a U.S. agricultural trade mission. While Australia and New Zealand are already mature markets, Lindberg says USDA still sees opportunities to …

9-11

Remembering 9-11

We join others never forgetting those lost 25 years ago this day, coordinated terrorist attacks in New York, Washington DC, and those who thwarted an additional attack crashing in a field in rural Pennsylvania. We pause and we remember. This is the Bottom-Line Report. A monthly supply demand and production estimate seems less urgent today, yet the grain trade awaits …

corn

Projected Corn Yields

StoneX released updated production estimates ahead of USDA numbers that come tomorrow morning, and they still see a national corn yield just short of 183 bushels an acre, three bushels above USDA’s August number, 10 bushels above the pro-farmer number. StoneX places the corn yield nationally 182.9, and a crop over 16.2 billion bushels. Their soybean estimates more in line …

corn

Custom Harvest Rates to Change

Custom harvest rates, of course, can vary from state to state and crop to crop. Universities suggest custom operators carefully figure the cost of fuel this year before figuring a final rate. To be helpful, University of Illinois suggests a custom rate for corn, $54.40 an acre. Soybeans, $47.60, including overhead, fuel and labor. Iowa State University shows $50.60 an …

corn

Corn, Wheat, and Soybean Futures

Late week highs in corn, soybean, and wheat futures could be new targets going into the September crop report from USDA a week from today. Watching December corn at the 550 level, November soybeans 1324-1325. Most analysts expect USDA to come below the pro-farmer corn number and at or maybe a little below their soybean number. Several producers that I’ve …

Grain trade

Updates on Grain Trades

Well, you might say the grain trade is taking yesterday’s production numbers with a grain of salt. Already looking forward to this September report on the 11th. Yesterday’s report was based on farmer surveys. Surveys that were returned anyway, and satellite data. Now, in the coming weeks, private crop scouts and USDA teams will be heading to the fields and …