Good morning,

Commodities are slightly higher across the board this morning as weather forecasts call for drier days in the Midwest and traders begin to even positions ahead of the USDA supply and demand report that will be released next Monday at 11 a.m. Currently, corn is up 2 cents and soybeans are up 10 cents. We continue to see markets re-positioning ahead of the release of the USDA data. Prices are currently bouncing off 10 week lows and we are seeing bargain buying and some short covering. Also, weather forecasts have evolved in the last 24 hours and are now leaning on the drier side which raises some concerns over the drier areas in IA, IL, and northern IN.

The international news agency, Reuters, released an average estimate of what the USDA supply and demand report will entail. The report estimates that corn yield will be reported at 164.9 bu/acre. The estimates ranged anywhere from 161 bu/acre to 167.2. Reuters expects the USDA to say 87.99 million acres of corn was planted with 80.050 million acres actually being harvested. The range of estimates for corn planted area spans 6.3 million acres, ranging from 83.49 to 89.8. The analysts included in Rueters’ pre-report survey believe that planted soybean acres on Monday’s report will range from 78 to 83.5 million acres with the average trade guess at 81.006 million acres. The trade expects the yield to be 47.6 bu/acre. The range of estimates were from 46 to 49 bu/acre.

Awaiting the report, I expect prices to remain range bound and not move too far one way or the other. I believe the only thing that could cause a change in market prices ahead of the report would be a significant change in the weather. Rains are in the forecasts for much of the drier areas, however, in the last 24 hours forecasts have begun to sharply disagree in the placement and coverage of those rainfalls. So confidence in the forecasts remains pretty low. In the short-run, how these rains perform will be a key driver in the markets. I continue to advise producers to put in firm offers with your buyers before the report gets here. By doing so, you give yourself a chance to lock in your crop at a profitable level you deem adequate without having to constantly watch the markets.

Have a great day!

Drake Bliss
920-348-6817
dbliss@didionmilling.com

Good morning,

Grain markets were relatively steady through the overnight of trade with corn futures unchanged and soybeans a cent higher. In the overnight session we saw a lower volume of trade as we expect many traders are gearing up for the report that is going to be released here on the 12th. Currently, corn is down a cent this morning and soybeans are down 3 cents. There’s not a whole lot of fresh news here in the markets today. Leading up to the report, I expect many traders to keep a close eye on the U.S. – China trade talks looking to see if they intensify any more than they already have. Also, I expect many to keep an eye on the development of weather forecasts. There are some drier areas that are becoming a bit more desperate for rainfall. The weather models seem to be struggling a bit determining the placement and intensity of rainfall to come in the next few weeks. With such a late planting for much of the U.S. corn crop this year many traders become concerned with any discerning weather that can still affect the yield potential. I believe trade will remain choppy leading up to the report, trading within its already established ranges until we get that data at the beginning of next week. There have been numerous private production estimates that have hit the markets in the last couple days and more are expected. There has been a large spectrum of predictions of what will come from the USDA data. It isn’t safe to say what will be released on Monday and there is still a lot of uncertainty running through the minds of some anxious traders. In the next few days to come, I would continue to advise producers to put in firm offers with your buyers to capitalize on a sudden run in the market.

Hope you have a great day!

Drake Bliss
920-348-6817
dbliss@didionmilling.com

Good morning,

Grain markets are lower through the overnight trading session as cool weather remained over the weekend and the next 5 day forecasts show chances of rain for much of the Corn Belt. Also, traders are becoming concerned to how China will retaliate if the tariff hike is implemented in September. Corn is currently down 4 cents and soybeans are currently down 11 cents. President Trump stated that the 10% tariff hike could be revoked if China steps up U.S. ag purchases. Many will be following closely to see what comes in the U.S. – China trade disputes hoping to hear some better news in the weeks to come. The weekly crop progress report will be released this afternoon at 3 p.m. Analysts are estimating that corn condition will come in at 57% GTE (58% GTE last week, 71% GTE last year, and 69.5% 5-year average) and the soybean condition to come in at 54% GTE (54% GTE last week, 63.4% 5-year average). Ultimately, not a whole lot of fresh news to come over the weekend besides the fact that the U.S. and China are failing to make up any ground regarding the trade talks. Markets continue to remain volatile as the weather remains benign and no progress is being made with China. I would continue to advise producers to put in firm offers with your buyers to take advantage of any run in the market after the report. With that being said, it isn’t safe to rule out a release of unexpected data. If you are sitting on a large amount of old crop I would consider taking some risk away by looking to sell some amount of corn this week before the report gets here.

Have a great day!

Drake Bliss
920-348-6817
dbliss@didionmilling.com

Good morning,

The technical selling spree continued in yesterday’s session with many traders liquidating their long positions. Both corn and soybeans were pushed to 10 week lows. However, through the overnight of trade the grain markets have made a corrective bounce. Corn is currently up 6 cents and soybeans are up 5 cents. Today’s session will be important in determining if the markets will be able to hold and stabilize this overnight bounce. If we fail to hold the overnight rebound in prices we’re likely to test the lows again trying to find new buyers as the market is still speculatively long. President Trump intensified the pressure on China to reach a trade deal. He announced yesterday the imposition of an additional 10% tariff on the remaining $300 billion of Chinese goods starting September 1. The trade disputes definitely hurt the demand side of U.S. grain and oilseeds, so reaching a trade deal will prove crucial for our markets. It was expected that a trade deal would be reached by the end of the year, but with the negotiations being pushed back more and more it makes you wonder when it will really happen. Heavy rains fell overnight in CO, OK, and KS. Those same rains are expected to linger for a while and will disperse by tomorrow. Corn Belt action is expected to stay scattered until the 6-10 day time frame and above normal precipitation is expected in the 11-15 day time frame. Temperatures will trend cooler in the northern plains and belt, and trend warmer far south. The weather and any technical indicators will continue to be closely watched leading up to the August report. I would continue to advise producers to put in firm offers with your buyers leading up to the report. The outlook for the report still remains bullish, so being able to capitalize on a sudden run should prove beneficial.

Have a great Friday!

Drake Bliss
920-348-6817
dbliss@didionmilling.com

Good morning,

Markets were steady/mixed through the overnight of trade as they are now trying to make a rebound from the month end selling spree in yesterday’s session. This morning corn is currently down 3 cents and soybeans are down 6 cents. The drop in prices we saw yesterday were due to technical indicators in large part. Key supports failed early on in the trading session which spurred many traders to liquidate their long positions. Also, the non-threatening weather and the U.S. – China trade talks dwindling away for the time being didn’t help with the matter. Overall, there wasn’t much standing in the way for the speculative selling. The resolution to the ongoing trade issues remains elusive. Although not confirmed, I have heard that the chance for face-to-face trade talks have now been moved back a month and will take place sometime in September. Going forward, the next few sessions will be important. Even further liquidation is very possible as the markets try to stabilize. Traders will be keeping a very close eye on the charts. It can be expected that trades will be made based on technical indicators to finish up this week. Overall, the weather remains benign with normal to cooler temperatures. Currently, we aren’t seeing many chances for rain in our area until later in the week next week. I would continue to advise producers to put in firm offers with your buyers leading up to the August 12th report. Also, if you are still sitting on a large amount of old crop, I would consider selling some amount before the report to take some risk away from the chances of prices falling after the report. We are now a week and a half away from the much anticipated report and having a good marketing plan for before and after the report should prove beneficial!

Have a great Thursday!

Drake Bliss
920-348-6817
dbliss@didionmilling.com