4-25 End of Day: Grains Mixed Friday: Corn Gains, Soybeans Slip, Wheat Firms
All Prices as of 2:00 pm Central Time
| Corn | ||
| MAY ’25 | 478.75 | 1.5 |
| JUL ’25 | 485.5 | 1.5 |
| DEC ’25 | 455.75 | -0.75 |
| Soybeans | ||
| MAY ’25 | 1049.75 | -3.25 |
| JUL ’25 | 1059.25 | -2.75 |
| NOV ’25 | 1035 | -0.5 |
| Chicago Wheat | ||
| MAY ’25 | 530 | 0.75 |
| JUL ’25 | 545 | 0.5 |
| JUL ’26 | 618 | 1 |
| K.C. Wheat | ||
| MAY ’25 | 538 | 0.25 |
| JUL ’25 | 551 | 0.25 |
| JUL ’26 | 621.75 | -0.25 |
| Mpls Wheat | ||
| MAY ’25 | 591.25 | -1.25 |
| JUL ’25 | 606.25 | -1.5 |
| SEP ’25 | 621 | -2 |
| S&P 500 | ||
| JUN ’25 | 5542.75 | 31.5 |
| Crude Oil | ||
| JUN ’25 | 63.06 | 0.27 |
| Gold | ||
| JUN ’25 | 3303.3 | -45.3 |
Grain Market Highlights
- Corn: Corn futures closed the week mixed, with strength in old-crop contracts driven by robust demand, while new-crop futures faced pressure from favorable planting conditions.
- Soybeans: Soybean futures ended lower Friday, pressured by improving U.S. planting conditions and widespread rainfall, even as trade negotiations between President Trump and China continued.
- Wheat: Wheat futures held onto marginal gains Friday, buoyed by strength in Paris milling wheat and short covering, with managed funds still holding record short positions across U.S. and EU wheat markets.
- To see the updated U.S. 8–14-day temperature and precipitation outlooks as well as the 10-day precipitation forecast for South America, scroll down to the other charts/weather section.
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Corn
Action Plan: Corn
Calls
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Cash
2024
Active
Sell JUL ’25 Cash
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Puts
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
2024 Crop:
- CONTINUED OPPORTUNITY – Sell another portion of your 2024 corn crop. This should be the eighth sale for your 2024 corn crop.
- Plan A: No active targets.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Now, eight sales recommendations made to date, with an average price of 494.
- No Changes: The market is still offering an opportunity to make an eighth sale of your 2024 corn crop. The closing price on the day of the recommendation was 483.25, and today’s close was 485.50.
2025 Crop:
- Plan A: Exit all 510 December calls @ 43-5/8 cents. Exit half of the December 420 puts @ 43-3/4 cents.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Seven sales recommendations have been made to date, with an average price of 461.25.
- No New Sales Targets: Still no active sales targets to report. Options targets remain active and unchanged.
2026 Crop:
- Plan A: No active targets.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Three sales recommendations have been made to date, with an average price of 460.
- No Changes: No new active sales targets to report.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following corn recommendations:
Market Notes: Corn
- Corn futures finished the week with mixed trade. Old crop futures were supported by the positive demand tone, but new crop futures were pressured on prospective planting pace for the week. July corn futures finished 4 ¾ cents lower on the week.
- The USDA announced a flash export sale of corn on Friday morning. Mexico purchased 235,000 MT (9.25 mb) of corn split between the current and next marketing year, 130,000 MT (5.1 mb) for 2024-25 and 105,000 MT (4.15 mb) for 2025-26.
- Export sales and shipments remain ahead of USDA projections, suggesting potential upward revisions to export estimates in upcoming WASDE reports, which could tighten old-crop carryout.
- News report that Japan is looking to boost U.S. corn imports as part of a possible trade deal and avoiding tariffs supported the front end of the corn market. Japan has been more active recently in US corn purchase, being the largest buyer this past week on the export sales report.
- Weather forecasts point to a drier start to May, likely accelerating planting progress and raising expectations for larger acreage in USDA’s June report.
Corn on the Move: Bulls Eye 510+ After Breakout
Corn futures broke out in April after holding key support near 450 through much of March. A bullish April WASDE report highlighting stronger demand sparked the rally, with prices pushing through the 50-day moving average. All eyes now turn to planting progress and demand trends to drive the next move. The February highs just above 510 are the next upside target, while support is firming near 470 at the top of the previous range.
Soybeans
Action Plan: Soybeans
Calls
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Cash
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Puts
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
2024 Crop:
- Plan A: Next cash sale at 1107 vs July.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Three sales recommendations made to date, with an average price of 1089.
- Status Quo: Continue to target a move to 1107 to make a fourth sale.
2025 Crop:
- Plan A: Next cash sales at 1093 & 1114 vs November. Exit all 1100 November call options at 88 cents.
- Plan B: Make a cash sale if November closes below 1016.75 support.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: One sales recommendation made so far to date, at 1063.50.
- Status Quo: If you’re behind on sales, target 1063 vs November for a catch-up opportunity. If you’re in line with current recommendations, Plan A remains to make the next cash sales at 1093 and 1114, while keeping an eye on 1016.75 support as part of Plan B.
2026 Crop:
- Plan A: No active targets.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Zero sales recommendations made so far to date.
- Status Quo: The first sales targets may not post until May or later.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following soybean recommendations:
Market Notes: Soybeans
- Soybeans ended the day lower despite continued talk of trade negotiations between President Trump and China. Much of the country has received rain over the past few days as planting begins, improving soil moisture and potentially pressuring futures. Soybean meal was higher, while soybean oil was lower to end the day.
- Argentinian weather forecasts have turned drier, allowing Argentina producers to push soybean harvest forward. Argentina producers were noted as strong sellers this past week, taking advantage of the rally in front month soybean futures.
- U.S. soybean planting is off to a strong start, with 8% of the crop planted — ahead of the five-year average. Near-term rains are expected, but longer-range forecasts show a drier May across North America, raising concerns about summer drought potential and adding weather premium to prices.
- For the week, May soybeans gained 13-1/4 cents while November gained just 2-1/2 cents. May soybean meal lost $5.60 for the week ending at $290, while May soybean oil was the leader gaining 1.41 cents to 49.28 cents.
Soybean Futures Rebound: Momentum Builds Above Key Support
Soybean futures dropped sharply in early April after newly announced tariffs triggered a break below key support near 1000, a level that had held firm through March. However, strong buying interest fueled a swift rebound, pushing futures back above the pivotal 1000 mark and reclaiming major moving averages — especially the 200-day, which had capped rallies for the past two years. With momentum rebuilding, the market is now eyeing the February highs near 1080, while the 200-day moving average is expected to provide support on any spring pullbacks.
Wheat
Market Notes: Wheat
- Wheat markets continued their positive momentum throughout the day, ultimately ending the day with gains, following the lead of the Paris milling wheat contract and as managed funds remain at record short positions in both the U.S. and the EU.
- Showers in Oklahoma and northern Kansas offered some pressure early, but buying picked up ahead of the weekend. Forecasts suggest upcoming rain will target the northern and far southern Plains, leaving central areas like Nebraska and western Kansas largely dry.
- Despite U.S. rain, global production risks persist. Dryness in key wheat regions across China, the EU, and the Black Sea remain in focus, tempering bearish sentiment.
- The wheat crop in Ukraine remains uncertain as Russian President Putin continues to ignore President Trump’s request to cease strikes on Ukraine and negotiate a peace deal. Any disruptions to wheat production or exports from Ukraine could place additional strain on the global wheat supply.
Action Plan: Chicago Wheat
Calls
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Cash
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Puts
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
2024 Crop:
- Plan A: Target 701 against July for the next sale.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Four sales recommendations made to date, with an average price of 690.
- Status Quo: 701 is still the price target to trigger a fifth sales recommendation.
2025 Crop:
- Plan A: Target 705.50 against July for the next sale.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Five sales recommendations made to date, with an average price of 646.
- New: Grain Market Insider originally recommended buying July 620 puts on June 7 of last year and has advised holding onto 25% of that original position. It’s looking likely that a recommendation to exit the final portion will come next week — stay tuned.
2026 Crop:
- Plan A: Target 704 against July ‘26 for the next sale
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: One sales recommendation made to date, at 624.
- Status Quo: 704 is still the price target to trigger a second sales recommendation.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following Chicago Wheat recommendations:
Chicago Wheat Futures Eye Key Breakout Above 200-Day Moving Average
After months of sideways action, Chicago wheat futures broke higher in February, rallying to early October highs just above 615. However, that mid-month peak quickly turned into a reversal point, sending futures back into the late 2024 trading range. Support near 530 held firm through March, and prices are building upward again this April. The next key test is the 200-day moving average — a decisive weekly close above it could signal a shift in momentum and potentially kickstart a broader upside trend.
Action Plan: KC Wheat
Calls
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Cash
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Puts
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
2024 Crop:
- Plan A: No active targets.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Three sales recommendations made to date, with an average price of 677.
- Nothing New: Still no active price targets, as the July contract continues to chop around in the 560–580 range.
2025 Crop:
- Plan A: Target 677 against July for the next sale.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Four sales recommendations made to date, with an average price of 639.
- Target Update: The prior 677 target has been lowered to 667. If 667 is hit, a recommendation will be made to complete a fifth sale.
- New: Grain Market Insider originally recommended buying July 620 puts on June 7 of last year and has advised holding onto 25% of that original position. It’s looking likely that a recommendation to exit the final portion will come next week — stay tuned.
2026 Crop:
- Plan A: No active targets.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Zero sales recommendations made so far to date.
- Nothing New: The expectation is still for targets to begin posting in the May – June timeframe.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following KC recommendations:
Kansas City Wheat Holding Support, Watching 200-Day Resistance
February was a volatile month for Kansas City wheat, with prices surging higher before tumbling back and ending the month little changed. March brought additional weakness, dragging prices near recent lows, but the ability to hold trendline support so far in April is encouraging. On a rebound, the 200-day moving average will be the first resistance level to watch, with February highs near 640 serving as a more significant upside barrier. On the downside, support near the December lows around 540 should provide a strong floor if selling pressure continues.
Action Plan: Mpls Wheat
Calls
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Cash
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
Puts
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
2026
No New Action
2024 Crop:
- Plan A: No active targets.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Five sales recommendations made to date, with an average price of 696.
- Nothing New: No active targets for a sixth sales recommendation at this time.
2025 Crop:
- Plan A: No active targets.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Sales Recs: Five sales recommendations made to date, with an average price of 646.
- New: Grain Market Insider originally recommended buying July KC 620 puts on June 7 of last year and has advised holding onto 25% of that original position. It’s looking likely that a recommendation to exit the final portion will come next week — stay tuned.
2026 Crop:
- Plan A: No active targets.
- Plan B: No active targets.
- Details:
- Nothing New: The expectation is still for targets to begin posting in the June – July timeframe.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following Minneapolis wheat recommendations:
Spring Wheat Holds Above 200-Day
Spring wheat broke out of its long-standing sideways range in late January, triggering a surge of bullish momentum. The rally gained traction in mid-February with a close above the 200-day moving average, though late-month weakness briefly pushed futures back below key technical levels. Unlike winter wheats, spring wheat’s ability to stay above the 200-day remains encouraging, with this level now expected to act as support on any growing season pullbacks. The next upside target is the February highs near 660. With spring wheat acreage projected to be the lowest in 55 years, weather volatility is likely to play a major role in driving price action this season.
Other Charts / Weather
