|

9-26 End of Day: Grains Stumble on Thursday

All prices as of 2:00 pm Central Time

Corn
DEC ’24 413.25 -2
MAR ’25 431 -2.25
DEC ’25 449.25 -1.75
Soybeans
NOV ’24 1041 -12.25
JAN ’25 1059.25 -12.5
NOV ’25 1084 -10.5
Chicago Wheat
DEC ’24 584.25 -5
MAR ’25 604.25 -4
JUL ’25 620 -3.25
K.C. Wheat
DEC ’24 579 -2
MAR ’25 593.75 -1.5
JUL ’25 608 -0.75
Mpls Wheat
DEC ’24 611.5 -5.5
MAR ’25 633.5 -5
SEP ’25 658.25 -4.25
S&P 500
DEC ’24 5801.5 22.5
Crude Oil
NOV ’24 67.65 -2.04
Gold
DEC ’24 2696.9 12.2

Grain Market Highlights

  • Below expectation corn export sales and potential farmer selling reversed corn futures from their morning highs, on the week so far corn is over 11 cents higher but has been unable to break out of its recent range.  
  • Soybeans were unable to post a fourth consecutive day of gains on Thursday despite strong export sales. Both soybean meal and oil were also lower on the day with soybean oil posting the largest losses.
  • All three wheat classes moved lower in unison today giving back some of yesterday’s gains. Poor export sales and falling corn and soybean prices provided outside pressure to wheat.
  • To see the updated US drought monitor as well as the One Week Drought Class Change Map courtesy of NOAA scroll down to the other Charts/Weather section.

Note – For the best viewing experience, some Grain Market Insider content is best viewed with your phone held horizontally.

Corn

Action Plan: Corn

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

Corn Action Plan Summary

Since printing a market low in late August, the corn market has rallied largely on fund short covering as the rush of old crop bushels into the market has slowed and demand has picked up. While the harvest of an expectedly large crop may limit upside potential, it is a good sign that corn buyers are finding value at these multi-year low price levels. Any unexpected downward shift in anticipated supply or increase in demand could trigger managed funds to cover more of their short positions and rally prices further, however, an extended rally is unlikely until after harvest.

  • No new action is recommended for 2024 corn. In June, we recommended purchasing Dec ’24 470 and 510 calls after Dec ’24 closed below 451, due to their relative value and the typically high market volatility during that time of year. Although we no longer have an upside objective for additional sales for now, we continue to target a value of 29 cents to exit the Dec ’24 470 calls. Exiting at this level will allow you to lock in gains that offset much of the original position’s cost, while holding the remaining 510 calls at or near a net-neutral cost. This strategy should continue to protect existing sales and provide confidence for further sales during an extended rally. Since harvest time is not an advantageous sales window, we will begin evaluating market conditions once it concludes and target areas for additional sales recommendations in late fall or early winter.
  • No new action is currently recommended for 2025 corn. Between early June and late July Grain Market Insider made three separate sales recommendations to get early sales made for next year’s crop. Considering the seasonal weakness of the market in late summer and early fall, we will not be looking to post any targeted areas for new sales until late fall or early winter. Although, we will look to protect current sales, in the form of buying call options, should the market begin to show signs of a potential extended rally.
  • No Action is currently recommended for 2026 corn. We currently aren’t considering any recommendations at this time for the 2026 crop that will be planted 2 years from now, and it may be some time before conditions are conducive to consider making any recommendations. Be patient as we monitor the markets for signs of improvement.

To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following corn recommendations:

Market Notes: Corn

  • Corn futures reversed of early session highs as disappointing corn exports sales and upward momentum from short covering limited the upside movement. Corn futures posted the second reversal in the past 3 days, failing around the 419 level on the Dec Chart. Going into Friday trade, Dec corn futures are trading 11 ½ cents higher on the week.
  • Weekly corn exports sales were disappointing this week on the USDA’s weekly export sales report. New corn sales last week totaled 535,000 MT (21.1 mb), well below last week and below analyst expectations. With in those sales, Unknown cancelled 156,000 MT (6.1 mb) of sales, weighing on the total. With the week’s sales totals, total accumulated sales are still 17% ahead of last year’s pace.
  • For the second straight day, Mexico bought some U.S. corn on a flash export sale announcement.  Mexico added 115,000 MT (4.5 mb) for corn purchase for the current marketing year.
  • Money flow has been strong into the commodity space since early September as the potential more friendly monetary policy and interest rate cut has triggered purchasing in the commodity sector.  Grains and other commodities have benefited from this recent rally, but as the month ends, multiple markets seemed to lose upward momentum on Thursday. The next couple sessions may be key for price direction in October.
  • Corn harvest continues, and yield results have been trending well above average, the increase of farmer selling, and hedge pressure will likely limit the corn market as we move into October and furthering the harvest.

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

Soybeans Action Plan Summary

Since early September, the soybean market has traded mostly sideways after a late August rally, as weather conditions turned dry during the later development stages of the crop. While the USDA projects record soybean yields for this season, the warm and dry finish to the growing season may have reduced final yields from earlier projections. Although export sales have increased in recent weeks, the current sales pace remains the slowest since 2019, which may still weigh on prices. Any pickup in demand or a decrease in this year’s projected supply could rally prices, especially post-harvest.

  • No new action is recommended for the 2024 crop. In early June, when our Plan B strategy was triggered by the market’s close below 1180, we recommended making sales at that time due to the potential change in trend signaled by that weak close. While we don’t currently have a target range for additional sales, because harvest time typically does not present the most advantageous prices, we will begin evaluating market conditions once it concludes and will target areas for additional sales recommendations in late fall or early winter.
  • No Action is currently recommended for 2025 Soybeans. To date, Grain Market Insider has not recommended any sales for next year’s soybean crop yet. First sales targets will probably be set in late fall or early winter at the earliest. Currently, our focus is on watching for opportunities to recommend buying call options. Should Nov ‘25 reach the upper 1100 range, the likelihood of an extended rally would increase, and we would recommend buying upside call options at that time in preparation for that possibility.
  • No Action is currently recommended for 2026 Soybeans. We currently aren’t considering any recommendations at this time for the 2026 crop that will be planted 2 years from now, and it may be some time before conditions are conducive to consider making any recommendations. Be patient as we monitor the markets for signs of improvement.

To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following soybean recommendations:

Market Notes: Soybeans

  • Soybeans ended the day lower after 3 consecutive days of gains and the November contract is currently up 29 cents on the week. Export sales were strong for soybeans, but a day of sharply lower trade in the soybean oil complex pressured prices. Both soybean meal and oil were lower today, but soybean oil was the big loser despite big early gains in palm oil futures.
  • Today’s export sales report showed an increase of 57.9 mb of soybean sales for 24/25 and was above the average trade estimate. Last week’s export shipments of 19.0 mb were below the 36.4 mb needed each week to mee the USDA’s export estimates. Primary destinations were to China, unknown destinations, and the Netherlands.
  • The dryness in Brazil has been more bullish for soybeans than for corn, and over the past three days, funds have bought back an estimated 35,000 contracts of soybeans. Meteorologists have said that the La Nina pattern that was expected this summer may see effects pushed into the fall which would be a problem for Brazil.
  • Some weakness today may have come from the lack of soybean flash sales to China this week as there had been rumors of a large purchase in the works. The proposed Chinese stimulus package had originally been bullish with an expectation for increased demand for ag products and raw materials from the US, but those exports will need to materialize.

Above: November soybeans’ strong close above 1031 ¼ resistance suggests that prices could run toward the late July high between 1080 – 1085. Above there, further resistance could be met near the 100-day moving average. If prices retreat, downside support could still be found between the 50-day moving average and 995.

Wheat

Market Notes: Wheat

  • Soybeans lost their upward momentum today, and as they faded back so did corn and wheat – all three US wheat futures classes posted losses. The losses in wheat come despite a drop in the US Dollar and a mostly higher close for Matif wheat, which may be more confirmation that US wheat has been following soybeans.
  • The USDA reported an increase of 5.8 mb of wheat export sales for 24/25 and an increase of 0.4 mb for 25/26. Shipments last week at 26.1 mb far exceeded the 15.5 mb pace needed per week to reach the USDA’s export goal of 825 mb. In addition, wheat sales commitments have reached 410 mb which is up 22% from last year.
  • Lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to intervene, if necessary, to prevent a port workers’ strike along the eastern US and Gulf coast. This comes on the heels of another strike in Vancouver, Canada. The US strike could reportedly begin on October 1, and both events could affect logistics and transport of grains, which could also impact exports of US commodities.
  • Recent rains have alleviated drought conditions in some of the US winter wheat areas. According to the USDA as of September 24, about 50% of US winter wheat acreage is experiencing drought. This is a decline of 8% from the previous week. And with hurricane Helene set to make landfall this evening, more rains may work their way into the southern SRW wheat areas over the next several days.
  • According to IKAR, they have lowered their estimate of Russian wheat production to 81.8 mmt from 82.2 previously, which compares to the USDA at 83.0 mmt. In related news, Russia has announced that they will expand their grain exports along the Baltic Sea to reduce dependance on Black Sea shipments. The goal is to boost exports by 50% by the year 2030. A reported 90% of Russian grain exports in 23/24 moved through the Black Sea, with only 2.4% through the Baltic Sea.
  • Frost and freezing conditions have become a threat to the wheat crop in southern and southeastern Australia. Reportedly, temperatures hit -2 degrees Celsius (28.4 degrees Fahrenheit) across about 1.2 million hectares of wheat. This equates to roughly 10% of major production and along with dryness in western regions is another blow to the crop. Australian wheat harvest typically begins in November.

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

Chicago Wheat Action Plan Summary

After posting a seasonal low in late July, the wheat market staged a rally that began in late August triggered by crop concerns due to wet conditions in the EU, and smaller crops out of Russia and Ukraine. The nearly 80-cent rally from the August low to September high also saw Managed funds cover about two-thirds of their net short positions. While low Russian export prices continue to be a limiting factor for higher US prices, a new season is upon us with many uncertainties ahead that could keep volatility in the market. Additionally, US export sales remain ahead of the pace set last year and in 2022, and any increase in demand from lower World supplies could rally prices further.

  • No new action is recommended for 2024 Chicago wheat. Considering the rally in wheat back in May, we recommended taking advantage of the elevated prices to make additional sales and buy upside July ’25 860 and 1020 calls (for their extended time frame) in case of a protracted rally. Our current strategy is to target 740 – 760 versus Dec ’24 to recommend further sales, while also targeting a selling price of about 73 cents in the 860 calls to achieve a net neutral cost on the remaining 1020 calls. The remaining 1020 calls would then continue to protect existing sales and give you confidence to make additional sales at higher prices.
  • No new action is recommended for 2025 Chicago wheat. Recently, we recommended taking advantage of the wheat rally to sell more of your anticipated 2025 SRW production. While we continue to recommend holding the remaining July ’25 620 puts — after advising to exit the first half back in July — to maintain downside coverage for any unsold bushels, we are targeting a 10-15% extension from our last sale to the 650–680 area in July ’25 to suggest making additional sales.
  • No action is currently recommended for 2026 Chicago Wheat. We currently aren’t considering any recommendations at this time for the 2026 crop that will be planted next year, and it may be some time before conditions are conducive to consider making any recommendations. Be patient as we monitor the markets for signs of improvement.

To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following Chicago wheat recommendations:

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

KC Wheat Action Plan Summary

Since mid-July, the wheat market has mostly drifted sideways as the trade tries to balance smaller US and global wheat supplies against cheaper world export prices. During this period, a potential seasonal low was also marked on the front month continuous charts as managed funds maintained a sizable net short position in the wheat markets. While low Black Sea export prices and slow world demand continue to weigh on US prices, the funds’ short position could trigger an extended short covering rally on any increase in US demand as world wheat ending stocks are expected to fall yet again this year.

  • No new action is recommended for 2024 KC wheat. Considering the upside breakout in KC wheat back in May, we recommended buying upside July ’25 860 and 1020 calls (for their extended time frame) in case of a protracted rally. Our current strategy is to target 675 – 700 versus Dec ’24 to recommend further sales, while also targeting a selling price of about 71 cents on the 860 calls to achieve a net neutral cost on the remaining 1020 calls. The remaining 1020 calls would then continue to protect existing sales and give you confidence to make additional sales at higher prices.
  • No new action is currently recommended for 2025 KC Wheat. Earlier this summer we recommended exiting half of the previously recommended July ’25 620 puts once they reached 60 cents (double the original approximate cost) to realize gains in case the market rallies back, while still holding the remaining 620 puts at, or near, a net neutral cost for continued downside coverage on any unsold bushels. To that end, we are currently targeting the upper 400 range versus July ’25 to exit half of those remaining puts. Meanwhile, our current upside strategy is to target the 640 – 670 range, also in the July ’25, to recommend making additional sales.
  • No action is currently recommended for 2026 KC Wheat. We currently aren’t considering any recommendations at this time for the 2026 crop that will be planted next year, and it may be some time before conditions are conducive to consider making any recommendations. Be patient as we monitor the markets for signs of improvement.

To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following KC recommendations:

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

Mpls Wheat Action Plan Summary

Since printing a near-term low in mid-July, Minneapolis wheat has trended mostly sideways as the market attempts to balance smaller US and world supplies versus lower world export prices and lower world demand. During this period, managed funds have maintained their sizable, short positions in Minneapolis wheat. Though low Russian export prices continue to keep a lid on US prices, smaller crops in Europe and the Black Sea region could increase US demand, potentially triggering an extended short-covering rally, especially as global wheat ending stocks are projected to decline again this year.

  • No new action is recommended for 2024 Minneapolis wheat. With the close below 712 support in June, Grain Market Insider implemented its Plan B stop strategy, recommending additional sales for the 2024 crop due to waning upside momentum and an increased likelihood of a downward trend. Given the heightened volatility and the amount of time that remains to market this crop, we will maintain the current July ’25 KC wheat 860 and 1020 call options. Our target is a selling price of about 71 cents for the 860 calls to achieve a net neutral cost on the remaining 1020 calls. These 1020 calls will continue to protect existing sales and provide confidence to make additional sales at higher prices. While we are at the time of year when market lows often occur, we will consider posting upside targets in late September or early October when market conditions often become more advantageous, and harvest is mostly behind us.
  • No new action is currently recommended for the 2025 Minneapolis wheat crop. Since the growing season can often yield some of the best sales opportunities, we made two separate sales recommendations in July to get some early sales on the books for next year’s crop. While we will not be targeting any specific areas to make additional sales until later in the marketing year, we will continue to monitor the market for opportunities to exit the remaining July ’25 KC 620 puts that were recommended in June. To that end, we are currently targeting the upper 400 range versus July ’25 KC to exit half of those remaining puts.
  • No Action is currently recommended for the 2026 Minneapolis wheat crop. We currently aren’t considering any recommendations at this time for the 2026 crop that will be planted 2 years from now, and it may be some time before conditions are conducive to consider making any recommendations. Be patient as we monitor the markets for signs of improvement.

To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following Minneapolis wheat recommendations:

Other Charts / Weather