Weekly Crop Commentary - 09/05/2025

Steve Bricher
Grain Operation Manager, Urbana (Region 3)

As I have written over the years, Labor Day is complete, and we are now looking harvest right in the face. You know I ride a motorcycle. We had nine of us ride to Halifax and back the last week of August, covering a total of 3,900 miles. It is amazing to see our country and Canada that way. You don’t normally get to see them when you are on two wheels. Northeast and Southeast Canada are very interesting.

What can be said about the markets today? We seem to have a bottom for the time being, which is a good thing. You had the opportunity to sell 10.00 harvest soybeans for several days, and many took advantage. It is hard to get excited about soybean prices when we have little to no export business to China. China will do what it feels is in its best interest, just as we do. They have made huge investments in South America and have more influence there than they do here. They will buy our soybeans when it suits their needs. The only thing I see today that could get the soybean market to rally is a weather problem in South America this winter. We will just have to wait and see.

Corn exports have been very good, but we are still looking at a 2.0+ billion-bushel carryover. The crop here in Ohio is not as good as out west, so we should see basis improve after harvest to get corn to move. Similar to soybeans, South America’s weather will be a large determining factor in what corn prices do this winter. Just a note, if you look at the fall of 2026, corn is over 4.00 cash. I have heard that input prices are not great, but getting some 2026 crop sold to establish a base may not be a bad marketing decision. If we look at the 2026 corn-to-soybean ratio, it does not indicate that a significant switch in acres will be coming.

Be careful this harvest, and keep an eye out for marketing opportunities as they come.

Zane Robison
Grain Merchandiser, Urbana (Region 3)

Markets had another quiet week as corn stayed rangebound while beans lost momentum. Corn looks set to finish a couple of cents higher on the week. It was encouraging to see it trade above the 50-day moving average throughout, partly supported by a 5% drop in Good/Excellent ratings during August. If you’ve got harvest-delivery bushels, this is a reasonable pricing window.

Soybeans trended lower, down more than 20¢ since Monday, slipping to levels last seen after the August WASDE. Even multiple export sales to unknown destinations this morning couldn’t stop the slide. Beans finished the afternoon weaker. With prices now back below all the major moving averages, the market hasn’t yet found solid support.

Have a great weekend, and stay safe as we move into harvest. This may be one of the last weekends without equipment in the fields, so make sure to enjoy it!

Lisa Warne
Grain Merchandiser, Marysville (Region 4)

Welcome to September! Some early soybeans will be ready very soon. I’ve also seen a good bit of corn silage being chopped over the last few weeks. Ready or not, harvest season is knocking on the door. We are busy cleaning bins and performing maintenance at our locations to prepare for your deliveries.

The phones have been quiet this week compared to the rallies we saw in August. Corn is essentially unchanged from last Friday. Soybeans have unfortunately lost over 20¢this week, but are still about 50¢ higher than the low set back on August 6th before their climb. Overall, high yields are still expected across the country, even though the dry August here has our potential in question. Brazil is set to plant another huge crop later this month. If China doesn’t shift its soybean buying away from Brazil and to the U.S. for this new crop, our export program will be hurt. A larger carryout from low exports will not give you the rallies you’re hoping for.

In the coming weeks, please log into our portal on your phone or computer to review your fall delivery contracts and delayed price balances, and prepare for the new crop year ahead. If you need help navigating it, we’d be glad to help. Have a great weekend!