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. 19. 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. Also, all reports noted are subject to delays because of the government shutdown.

1. No support details: It's the week after the week after the Tuesday that Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said we'd learn about federal support payments to compensate farmers for the low commodity prices and high input costs compounded by the tariff taxes created by the Trump Administration and supported by others. There are still few answers other than open-ended promises.

2. Markets slide sideways: Anecdotal harvest reports say corn and soybeans yields aren't always coming up to levels USDA predicted in the August and September World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) reports. With no official updates in those numbers because of the government shutdown, we're looking for more than anecdotes. But even the potential of lower-than-expected yields has a hard time moving markets significantly as export opportunities continue to flounder.

3. Harvest weather update: A system that moved north into Canada late last week will push a front eastward this weekend and into the week. That may cause some heavier rain and stronger thunderstorms to develop across the east. Showers may slow harvest for some. Temperatures will be quite variable as the systems move through. The rains across the Ohio and Mississippi valleys are not likely to raise Mississippi River levels significantly. See more DTN weather analysis during the week at https://www.dtnpf.com/… and to find more weather conditions and your local forecast for free from DTN, head over to https://www.dtnpf.com/….

4. South American weather promising: A front in southern Brazil produced showers this past week, favorable for planting and early growth. Central Brazil had been drier during the past two weeks, though showers are starting to fill in across the region and are forecast to be widespread starting Friday and continuing thereafter. That should be supportive of soybeans going forward. Likewise, Argentina has good soil moisture conditions for early corn planting, and soybean planting will kick in soon as nighttime temperatures increase. Though there is a risk of hotter and drier weather this season due to the developing La Nina, conditions are favorable thus far. See the South America blog for more details: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

5. Reports due this week: Here are the reports scheduled, though if the government shutdown continues some may not be released as planned. Monday at 9 a.m., U.S. Leading Economic Indicators for September. At 10 a.m., Grain Inspections. The USDA NASS weekly Crop Progress report is unlikely unless the shutdown ends. On Tuesday no reports scheduled. Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m., the EIA weekly petroleum report with ethanol production and stocks is scheduled. Thursday at 7:30 a.m., Grain Export Sales is released, also the Initial Jobless Claims. At 9 a.m. Existing Home Sales is due. At 10:30 a.m. is Weekly Economic Index. Friday, at 7:30 a.m. Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Core CPI are scheduled. At 8:45 a.m. S&P Flash U.S. Services PMI for October and Flash Manufacturing PMI for October. At 9 a.m. is Consumer Sentiment. At 2:30 p.m. the CFTC Commitment of Traders report -- again, only if the government has reopened.

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Bonus content: Check out DTN Field Posts Podcast Episode 264: How the Government Shutdown is Impacting Farmers. DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton talks to the podcast host Sarah Mock about how it ranges from delays at local FSA offices to lost momentum on trade deals to missed national reports, as well as what's ahead.

Clayton talks about the latest shutdown news, including how key USDA agencies and activities -- from FSA loans and NRCS payments to disaster aid and WASDE reports -- are being disrupted and what the long-term fallout might be.

He also gives updates on work that's still being done, including pest detection at the Southern border, and touches on how trade discussions are being affected both by the shutdown and by Trump's recent announcement about an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Finally, he provides some recent reactions from farmers, tells where Congress and the administration sit today and what might be a path forward toward a more stable outcome for farmers and the American people.

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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