BASIC & RECENT MARKET INFO

Tidbits China bought  at least ten more shiploads of U.S. soybeans (~650,000 mts) on Tuesday according to multiple sources within the grain export trade. Eduardo Vanin of AgrInvest Commodities: China continues buying soybeans from the U.S. Purchases have reached 67 cargoes, ~35% of the program. These purchases make no economic sense — they are political purchases. The losses on these soybeans for crush are enormous, which leads the market to think: regardless of price, the st

Tidbits Early last week President Trump authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela. On Friday, a large crude refinery and chemical facility in Venezuela had a serious explosion, the cause of which is reportedly unknown. On Monday, the U.S. will designate Venezuela’s drug Cartel de Soles as a foreign terrorist organization for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the U.S. That designation legally allows a U.S. military strike on any target within the country tha

Tidbits President Donald Trump is committed to providing Americans a $2,000 check using money that has come into government coffers from Trump's tariffs. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump's staff is exploring how to go about making the plan a reality. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote today to end the government shutdown. OPEC  revised its crude oil demand projections for 2026 from higher to about unchanged to show a “b

Tidbits Inflation: Two weeks ago, the U.S. inflation rate for the past 12 months was reported to be 3%, way above the Federal Reserve’s stated goal of 2%. Three days later, the Fed reduced the Fed Fund Rate. Chairman Jerome Powell said, “Inflation has eased significantly from its highs in mid-2022 but remains somewhat elevated relative to our 2 percent longer-run goal."   In August 1971, the U.S. annual inflation rate reached an "intolerable" 3% and all financial “experts” pr

Tidbits China bought 20 shiploads of Brazil’s soybeans over the weekend.   Bloomberg reported that China is seeking U.S. wheat offers for December through February shipment. That supported corn yesterday. The U.S. will suspend port fees for a year on China-linked vessels starting November 10 as part of deescalating maritime tensions, Bloomberg reports. The White House says the pause of measures aimed at countering China’s shipping dominance will last one year while the U.S. n

Soybeans Market & Risk Management There are three primary reasons farmers sell corn, wheat, and beans when they do.   The most common reason is farmers sell grain when they need the money. Since most farmers need money about the same time, that is why the lows are made as farmers sell about three-fourths of their grain in the bottom fourth of the year's price range.   The second reason farmers sell grain is because the price is profitable, so they sell some grain and hold bac

Tidbits Soybean export:  CHS reports that China bought at least four cargoes of soybeans on Friday. Shipments are scheduled for December and January and will originate from both the PNW and the Gulf.   A trader with “inside” connections says the USDA has 20 million mts of soybean exports to China plugged into the S&D for this marketing year. If so, the China deal will not result in an increase in exports on the next USDA S&D.   OPEC  will meet tomorrow to discuss December pro

Tidbits Chinese and U.S.  officials will be meeting this weekend to prepare the agenda for next Thursday’s meeting of Trump and Xi to discuss “important issues”. Yesterday afternoon, Reuters reported that the Chinese oil majors have suspended purchases of Russian oil due to the U.S. sanctions. It seems like questionable news, because yesterday, commenting on U.S. sanctions against Russian oil companies, a representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated at a briefing tha

We've prepared general marketing recommendations for U.S. farmers which are absolutely necessary to know and practice. How to get better at marketing? Everyone’s marketing skills are different. You must learn and improve yours. Start by learning the marketing lingo and practice. Find a friend to talk about markets until the lingo becomes comfortable in conversation. Consider working with an adviser or service that will help you learn. Let’s cover basic marketing techniques be

Tidbits Harvest report:  From Central Ohio, double crop soybeans made 56 bushels after 12 tons of chopped triticale. Unlike most of the Eastern Corn Belt, this field had a 3 inch rain on the first day of August and another 1.5 inches through the first week of September.     Crude oil:  The OPEC+ members met yesterday to decide if they should increase daily production in November by 137,000 or 548,000 barrels per day or some amount in between. Saudi Arabia wanted a big increas

Tidbits Corn Acres:  Zaner Ag Hedge Chief Analyst, Karen Braun, asked USDA/NASS via their chatline (paraphrased): Karen prepared state-by-state corn acres reported in June vs corn acres in September. Note the biggest acreage increases percentage wise were in Mississippi, North Dakota, Kansas, Arkansas, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Together, Nebraska and Minnesota added 850,000 acres.

Tidbits The USDA will release its September World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) at 11 AM Central Time today. As expected, CBOT ag markets were higher yesterday as they recovered from oversold conditions the previous two days. The market will trade the production numbers in the few first minutes or so after the report is released, then the market will trade the U.S. carryover numbers for 3 to 20 minutes, and then the market will trade the world carryovers in

Tidbits Cattle and feeder cattle  were lower yesterday after a report this weekend of the first human screwworm case in the U.S. which was found in Maryland. The person had just returned from El Salvador. The Fed: Yesterday President Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook because she claimed two homes were her main residence on her mortgage applications. Wheat: Seven of the last ten years, soft red winter December wheat futures made its low in the last half of August

Tidbits Trump and Putin  talked for 2 hours and 45 minutes yesterday afternoon in Alaska. After the meeting, they held a press conference where they said there was no deal made, but a lot of progress was made. Trump said he will contact European leaders and Ukraine’s President Zelensky to fully brief them on the details discussed, there would be preparations for a three side meeting between Ukraine, Russia and the United States, and the Ukraine should make a deal. Trump said

Tidbits The U.S. struck a framework trade deal with the EU  on Sunday, imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods, but averting a spiraling battle between the two economic powers which account for almost a third of global trade. The announcement came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled for talks with President Trump at his golf course in Western Scotland. They shook hands on a hard-fought deal.   The deal mirrors key parts of the framework agr

Tidbits Yesterday morning, the USDA announced the sale of 554,400 mts  of new crop (2025 corn) and 75,600 mts of 2026 corn  to Mexico . Somebody in Mexico thinks corn is really cheap to be buying that much for future delivery. Mexico’s wheat imports for the 2025/26 season are projected to rise to 6.4 million mts due to its lowest harvest in 30 years. Current season import estimates are at 5.2 million mts. The U.S. remains the primary supplier with a share of about 73%, follow

Tidbits U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday said it would be “economic suicide” for Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz  because the Iran’s oil also passes through the strait. Iran is the third-largest oil producer in OPEC, pumping 3.3 million barrels per day. It exports at least 1.6 million bpd, with nearly 80% sold to China.   TankerTrackers.com Sunday afternoon: "Iranian tankers are still loading crude oil, and today’s satellite imagery shows additional Iranian a

Highlights U.S. President Donald Trump says the American military has completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing war between Iran and Israel.   "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space,"  he wrote on Truth Social. Corn Marketing Opportunity and Recommendation This is the weekend that the seasonal tr

Highlights Bio Fuel consultant, Corey Lavinsky, reports the Senate's proposed changes to the 45Z clean fuel  credit have been released &...

Q&A: Marketing Plans A Prospective Client asked on 22 April 2025:   "I am getting your trial emails and have a couple of questions. My marketing plan is to store as many bushels as possible on farm and market them as old crop between 5-12 and 6-22-25 selling ~17% each week for 6 weeks, maybe every Wednesday at noon? When selling old crop, do I just sell cash price for the nearby month and deliver during the six-week period described above?" We usually recommend you separate t