Top 5 Things to Watch

By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of Sept. 14. Watch for coverage of these and other topics throughout the week on our subscription platforms as well as on www.DTNPF.com.

Note that all report release and webinar times are Central Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.

1. Drum roll on interest: Once again, a lot of anticipation for the interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve meeting Wednesday at 1 p.m. Presidential pressure to lower rates remains high. Continued falling employment numbers, and the growing number of companies raising prices because of the Administration's tariff taxes, as well as general uncertainty over the markets or the economy, complicate the Fed's twin guiding lights of fostering low inflation and providing maximum employment.

2. Farm support outcry: Push for government support for farmers continues as a lot of birds come home to roost: the delayed updating of farm bill payment levels due to political blockages during the previous administration, which hurt payment levels and cash-on-hand the past several years; continued above-trend yields and high corn and soybean plantings, which puts downward pressure on markets; and the additional pressure on commodity prices and increase in input costs related to the current tariff taxes. The call for government support and answers to trade issues continue to be the talk anywhere farmers and farm groups meet.

3. Late-summer warm-up: Scattered showers will continue around the north-central U.S. during the weekend and into the week. Other than temporary cooling, those temperatures will be quite warm for much of the country. Forecasts point to temperatures remaining above normal through the month.

4. Conditions improve in South America: Spring planting is underway across southern Brazil, where soil moisture conditions are favorable. A couple of fronts moving through the region could bring in some additional showers this week. Models have trended downward with the precipitation coverage getting into central Brazil, but any rainfall would be helpful there until the wet season rains become more frequent in October. In Argentina, soil moisture is favorable for early planting of corn and sunflowers, but some producers may choose to wait longer to avoid frosts. A couple of fronts will move through the country with scattered showers that will likely keep soil conditions favorable for those that do wait.

5. Reports due this week: Monday at 7:30 a.m., the Empire State Manufacturing Survey is out. At 10 a.m. we'll see the weekly Grain Inspections report, then at 2 p.m., Livestock Historical Track Records. At 3 p.m. the weekly USDA NASS Crop Progress report with DTN analysis of those conditions. Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. is the U.S. Retail Sales for August and Imports and Exports. At 8:15 a.m. the Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization data is out. At 9 a.m. Business Inventories numbers for July and the Home Builder Confidence Index for September. Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. we'll see the latest Housing Starts and Building Permits data. At 9:30 a.m. the EIA Weekly Petroleum report including ethanol production and stocks is released. At 1 p.m. we'll get the Fed decision on interest rates followed at 1:30 p.m. with Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference. At 2 p.m. is Broiler Hatchery report. Thursday at 7:30 a.m. Grain Export Sales and Initial Jobless Claims data is released. At 9 a.m. we'll see the U.S. Leading Economic Indicators for August followed by Weekly Economic Index data at 10:30 a.m. and at 2 p.m. are the Slaughter Weekly numbers. Friday is quiet until the 2 p.m. release of USDA Cattle-On-Feed data, followed by 2:30 p.m. CFTC's Commitment of Traders report.

Bonus DTN content: Looking for some podcasts to enjoy while you're on the road or in the field? Check out Episode 258: Harvest Weather Outlook 2025 where DTN Field Posts host Sarah Mock interviews DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick. Baranick gives a peek at the weather projections for the next few months for key regions of the country. He'll also touch on what wild cards we'll be keeping an eye out for that might yet disrupt global supplies and markets.

You can find DTN Field Posts podcasts at https://dtn.link/…, or https://www.dtnpf.com/… and they're also available on podcast hosting sites such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Watch for the latest news at www.dtnpf.com, and follow and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dtnprogressivefarmer. You can find our news on Instagram as well. Give us a follow @dtn.agnews

Be sure and watch for the latest news at www.dtnpf.com, and follow and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dtnprogressivefarmer

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