Episodes

US and the World Harvest time is in full swing across the greater North American corn belt. As of October, the 4th 23% of US corn has been harvested which is 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 27%. On the soybean side 25% of American soybeans have been harvested as of October the 5th. This is 8 percentage points behind the five-year average of 33%. In other words, harvest has been progressing at full bore with some complications from wet weather. Of course, when the sun shines ...

US and the World Harvest is on the horizon. On September 6th it was estimated that 5% of the corn had already been harvested in the United States. The USDA is estimating the American corn crop at 56% good to excellent with soybeans coming in at 58% good to excellent. So, we know how this works, given some good weather in September into October there will be an acceleration of crop progress and harvest progress. We are about to be in the eye of the storm. The growing season has been a bit uneven...

US and the World It is that time of year again. In many ways August represents the time for the stretch drive in crop development as soybeans need moisture to set pods and corn needs some moisture to finish. It has been somewhat of an uneven year in many areas within the greater North American corn belt. There has been lots of dryness and heat as well as too much rain in some areas. However, as we head into late August it looks like the crop is a good one coming into September. On August 9th th...

US and the World It is a critical time of the year in grain markets. In many years mid to late July is a time where the market has already decided where this crop is going. 2026 might be a different year. Widespread hot and droughty weather in Western Europe as well as the threat of the same in North America is sending nervousness throughout the grain complex. On top of this we have all the same geopolitical problems in Ukraine and Russia as well as Iran adding to the uncertainty. This is the b...

US and the World It has been a solidly good spring in the American Midwest with no major planting issues. On June 29th USDA estimated 67% of the US corn crop was good to excellent while soybeans we’re rated at 65% good to excellent. June 30th always represents a benchmark for grain markets with the release of the June 30th acreage report. Acreage is important and in past years the June 30th acreage report would often serve as a volatile reminder of how prices can ebb and flow. Sometimes the cha...

US and the World It is that time of year again when we’re in the homestretch hurtling toward most critical crop development time of the year. Often times, seasonality tells us that some of the best prices for new crop are had in mid-June and early July. This is the time when the crop can go through difficult times during the growing season. However, so far things look pretty good. US corn planting was 97% complete as of June 8th with soybeans coming in at 92%. 66% of the US corn crop looked goo...

US and the World Planters are rolling across the Great North American corn belt. It is that time of year when the rubber meets the road with regard to all the plans put in place over the last few months. As of May, the 10th 57% of corn was planted in the US and 49% of intended soybean acreage was in the ground. So we’re off to a very good start. However, as every farmer knows there’s lots of risks planting those fields and there’s lots of risk ahead. Markets have been volatile. On Tuesday May t...

US and the World It is that time of year again when planters are rolling across the Great North American corn belt. As always, there are variations on this theme depending on the weather. Some producers are going well, some are delayed by rain, and some haven’t even started yet. However, as we look into 2026, we have a world awash in grain but at the same time deeply troubled by geopolitical events in the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. Our grain price environment equation is being buffeted...

US and the World The calendar date has changed and with that so has the psychology. Where we have been musing about old crop stocks for several weeks and months now, April 2026 will be the month where planters will really start to roll both in corn and soybeans. The March 31st USDA Prospective plantings report always serves as a benchmark for the new crop year ahead of us. Sometimes, this report can see explosive market action as the algorithms have it dialed in. With war raging it is an uneven...

US and the World In mid-March it is that time of year when planters are either rolling in the southern regions of the American corn belt or are being adjusted for the planting season that is almost upon us. It has been an eventful winter to say the least with prices advancing especially in the last few weeks with war breaking out in the Middle East between the United States, Israel, and Iran. War markets are never easy to explain, always filled with uncertainty. It will make it challenging as a...