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 Oct. 5. 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. Government shutdown: Lack of government reports will likely continue to depress trader activity. No news, for commodities at least, is not good news. DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery noted recently with no export or similar reports, particularly in the middle of harvest, there's little to stir the bulls. That could change should reports return and there be an official recognition of some of the lower yields that farmer chats are reporting.

2. Erratic weather signals: Major changes to the forecast are possible for next week, though the U.S. and European models don't show a lot of consistency. An expected front should give parts of the country midweek showers, then drier weather is likely to return. A burst of cooler air behind the midweek front may not last long, with higher temperatures to follow, though another cooler burst may then follow, giving a whip-saw to temperatures.

3. About those payouts: Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins promised news on trade-war compensation for grain farmers by Tuesday. At least she didn't say "in about two weeks." We'll be watching and waiting to see how the shutdown might delay payments.

4. WASDE unlikely: The USDA October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report was due at 11 a.m. Friday. Most expectations are it will be canceled (and it may be official by the time you read this.) If canceled, DTN will also not be holding our traditional Rhett's Reaction webinar, with DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery. We will keep you apprised via news articles and in our daily analysts' commentary through the week.

5. Reports due this week: Wellllllll, about that. At the moment, many government-related economic and industry reports are being cancelled or postponed. We already know that the latest labor reports, grain export data and other frequent releases have not been seeing the light of day since the Oct. 1 shutdown. However, here are the reports that were previously scheduled. If the subject of any of these are important to your business planning, and they fail to materialize, you might let your elected representatives know that you're missing them. Just say'n. But, to wit: Monday, at 10 a.m. Grain Inspections, at 3 p.m. USDA NASS weekly Crop Progress. Traders will be watching for any sign of progress on a U.S.-China trade deal. Tuesday, Ag Secretary Rollins said farmers should be hearing about the tariff-tax-supported funds they will be receiving, that "tax rebate" idea we talked about last week. We'll be watching for it, along with the 7:30 a.m. U.S. Trade Deficit data for August, then the 10 a.m., Survey of Consumer Expectations. At 2 p.m., Consumer Credit report. Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. the EIA Weekly Petroleum Status report, including ethanol production and stocks, is due. At 1 p.m. the minutes from the Fed September FOMC meeting. At 2 p.m. Broiler Hatchery numbers. Thursday at 7:30 a.m. Grain Export Sales and Initial Jobless Claims. At 10:30 a.m. the Weekly Economic Index. At 11 a.m. Cotton Ginnings and USDA Crop Production and October WASDE reports. Again, we do NOT expect the WASDE and related reports to be released, and expect our post-WASDE webinar to be cancelled as well. At 2 p.m. Slaughter weekly numbers would normally be out. Friday at 9 a.m., Consumer Sentiment for October, at 1 p.m. Monthly U.S. Federal Budget figures, and at 2:30 p.m. the CFTC Commitment of Traders report.

Bonus content: Check out Episode 263 of the DTN Field Posts podcast where host Sarah Mock interviews DTN Environmental Editor Todd Neeley to discuss the battle of year-round E15: Though lawmakers have expressed support again and again for expanded rules that would create additional demand for ethanol around the country, farmers and their advocates continue to wait for changes. Now, with a gigantic corn crop about to flood the market, and hamstrung prices, any bit of extra demand could provide relief. Neeley will bring people up to date on that, as well as updates on the Small Refinery Exemption issue -- a longer-range issue that's been lingering at the EPA and in the courts since the first Trump administration. And, he covers the latest RFS volume announcements and what's happening on the trade front as the U.S. disputes Brazilian biofuel tariff levels. The podcast also talks about the latest news on the 45Z tax credit and a recent plant acquisition.

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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