Todd Hultman

Once again, USDA gave us another reason not to take estimates of world grain stocks too seriously.

March corn was up 2 3/4 cents, March soybeans were up 4 1/2 cents, and March Kansas City (HRW) wheat was down 1 1/4 cents.

Most of Monday's commodity board showed losses, while the March U.S. dollar index traded at its highest prices in over a month. Chicago and Minneapolis wheat were among the exceptions, but March soybeans fell 9 1/2 cents as...

USDA threw a lot of new estimates at traders on Friday and when the final bell rang March soybeans, Chicago and Minneapolis wheat ended with small gains, while March corn and K.C. wheat posted small losses. We can't say the market...

Nearly all commodities traded lower Thursday after CNBC.com reported that the top leaders of the U.S. and China will likely meet at some point, but probably not before the March 2 trade deadline. U.S. stocks are also trading lower...

After five weeks of dark offices, USDA's lights are back on and the department is ready to issue final corn and soybean crop estimates for 2018, new crop estimates for South America, Dec. 1 grain stocks totals and an estimate of...

Grain traders stayed quiet again Wednesday, presumably holding back until they see what USDA has to say on Friday. Non-ag commodities were trading mostly higher, but the March U.S. dollar index was also higher for a third...

Tuesday saw another quiet day of trading in grains end with prices showing mostly small gains at the finish. Outside commodities were mixed with U.S. stocks and the March U.S. dollar index both trading higher.

March contracts of corn, soybeans and the two winter wheats finished slightly higher Monday on light volume, starting the week quiet with USDA's WASDE report due Friday. Energy and metal futures are mostly lower while the March...

March soybeans traded up 16 cents early Friday after positive comments came out of Thursday's trade talks with China, but by the close, prices were up just 2 1/2 cents on the day. March K.C. wheat was Friday's percentage leader...

Regression to the mean was not flawless in 2018, but the long-term evidence is still persuasive.

March contracts of corn, soybeans and all three wheats finished lower Thursday as trade talks with China continued without official announcement. Adding pressure to grain prices, the March U.S. dollar index is trading higher just...

Grains traded mixed most of the session, but by the close March contracts of corn, soybeans and all three wheats were a little higher. April cattle pushed to a new contract high as livestock are encountering obvious stress.

Except for softs and grains, most commodities rallied higher Tuesday with help from a modest gain in the stock market. March contracts of corn, soybeans and all three wheats finished lower however, with most contracts stuck in...

Wheat prices tried to trade higher early Monday, but by the end of the session, March contracts of corn, soybeans and all three wheats were lower on light volume as traders await the release of pent-up export sales data...

It is difficult to explain fundamentally, but soybean oil prices continue to show bullish technical clues.

Back from a three-day weekend, U.S. stocks and most commodities were lower, facing the same concerns of slower world growth and lack of trade talk progress with China. March corn and soybeans were lower while the three wheats...

March soybeans finished 9 cents higher Friday, helped by an unconfirmed rumor that China offered to commit to large U.S. ag purchases earlier this month, and by a return of investor buying interest to the stock market and...

As with corn, buy low, sell high is good advice for soybeans, but needs a slight adjustment for cattle.

March corn is up 1 3/4 cents, March soybeans are up 4 3/4 cents, and March K.C. wheat is up 4 1/4 cents.

March corn is up 1 1/4 cents, March soybeans are up 3 1/2 cents, and March K.C. wheat is up 1 1/2 cents.

March contracts of corn and two of the three wheats finished a little higher Wednesday, finding only light trade volume after Tuesday's losses. March soybeans traded lower much of the day, but ended up 1 1/4 cents, still...

March corn is up 2 1/4 cents, March soybeans are up 4 1/4 cents, and March K.C. wheat is up 3 1/2 cents.

March corn is up 1 3/4 cents, March soybeans are up 1 3/4 cents, and March K.C. wheat is up 1/2 cent.

March corn is down 1/2 cent, March soybeans are down 5 3/4 cents, and March K.C. wheat is down 2 1/2 cents.

Friday was a quiet day of trading in the grain sector that saw prices start higher early, but gradually fade to smaller gains throughout the day. Grain news remains restrained by the government shutdown and the forecast in...

The U.S. government shutdown is likely to be harmless, provided it doesn't last too long. For agriculture, the biggest risk could come from USDA's lack of export sales reporting.

March corn is up 2 1/2 cents, March soybeans are up 3 1/2 cents, and March K.C. wheat is up 4 3/4 cents.

March contracts of corn, soybeans, and all three wheats finished lower Thursday, pressured by a mix of disappointment from this week's trade meeting with China, a higher-than-expected soybean crop estimate from Brazil and a...

Most commodities on the futures board finished higher Tuesday with help from the March U.S. dollar index trading at its lowest price in over two months. Corn and soybean prices were modestly higher with help from hot and dry...

Grain and oilseed prices were mixed on mostly light trade as negotiations resumed between U.S. and Chinese trade officials Monday. March soybeans were up 2 3/4 cents and March soybean meal was up $3.20 at $322.20, helped by more...

March contracts of corn, soybeans and all three wheats finished higher Friday after USDA announced it was postponing its January 11 reports. Hot temperatures remain in the forecast for southern Brazil and export sales remain...

The history of annual price changes in corn has a lot to teach us about how we should approach markets today.

March Kansas City Wheat closed up 11 cents, leading percentage gains among grain-related contracts on Thursday, while the March U.S. dollar index is trading down 0.58. March corn broke out of its stubborn pattern and finished 4...

March soybeans finished up 12 cents, helped by a forecast for more hot and dry conditions in south-central Brazil and by more unconfirmed talk of soybean purchases from China, while the U.S. government is not publishing export...

March corn and soybeans both slipped a half-cent each on light volume for the final day of 2018, while export sales remain a mystery and after President Trump said trade progress is being made. March contracts of winter wheat...

March soybeans closed up 13 cents and March soybean meal was up $4.70 Friday, the only crop-related contracts showing decent volume at the end of Christmas week. Corn and wheat prices were quiet and finished mixed as the...

March soybeans fell 14 cents Wednesday, still troubled by ongoing concerns about U.S. soybean demand while the U.S. and China keep negotiating trade terms ahead of the March 1 deadline. Corn and wheat also finished lower in spite...

Monday's closes at CME Globex: March corn was down 3/4 cent, March soybeans were down 3/4 cent, and March Kansas City (HRW) wheat was down 1/4 cent.

March corn and soybeans were slightly lower on Christmas Eve, only showing tiny fractions of their normal volume. Wheat, the three wise men, brought mixed messages from afar and a 2 1/2-cent gain to the Chicago contract.

Except for corn and cattle, most commodity prices finished lower again Friday as outside investor worries led to more selling of U.S. stocks and a risk-off response around the country. A looming government shutdown, the...

Increased pork sales from Mexico last week and slightly lower than expected on-feed and hog inventory numbers from USDA are giving livestock prices a chance to finish 2018 on a high note.

One aspect of managing crop price risk is not much different from how you buy homeowners insurance.

March corn dropped 6 1/2 cents and March soybeans were down 6 3/4 cents, both likely influenced by noncommercial selling related to new lows in the stock market and crude oil. Winter wheat prices were one of the few commodities...

February cattle and hogs are modestly lower early Thursday, getting no help from outside markets as Dow Jones Industrials challenge their lows for the year. USDA's weekly report of export sales was bullish for pork, thanks to...

March contracts of corn, soybeans and all three wheats finished lower Wednesday, showing no bullish impact from USDA's announcement of a 44.1 million bushel soybean sale to China. Outside commodities traded mostly higher, even after...

March contracts of all three wheats finished lower Tuesday with March Minneapolis showing the largest loss of 8 1/2 cents. March corn and soybeans were a little higher with traders still hoping for some purchases from China.

While the Dow Jones Industrials fell to their lowest levels in seven months and outside commodities followed mostly lower, soybeans and wheat prices held firm and March corn ended slightly lower.

January soybeans fell 6 1/2 cents Friday, still not impressed by a second day of export sales to China and also influenced by a commodity board that was nearly all red. March corn was one of the few commodities that survived with...

What helps one survive bearish times in grain markets? A healthy dose of old-fashioned values.

USDA announced its first significant soybean purchase from China for 2018-19, but January soybeans dropped 13 cents on disappointment that the first sale was only 41.5 million bushels. Wheat prices closed higher with help from...

Most commodities and the Dow Jones Industrials were trading higher Wednesday, a sign investors' cautious moods are lightening, less than two weeks before Christmas and even grains found some benefit. Wheat led percentage gains...

USDA's WASDE report for December has come and gone, leaving January soybeans a little higher, March winter wheat contracts a little lower and March corn up less than a cent. Outside markets were mixed, but copper and crude oil...

March contracts of corn, soybeans and all three wheats finished lower Monday, one day ahead of USDA's next WASDE report set for 11 a.m. CST Tuesday. Commodities in general are also lower Monday as is the stock market, while the...

USDA's December Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates reports probably won't shed any light on this year's harvest difficulties in the U.S., but could increase South America's crop estimates.

March Kansas City wheat closed up 16 1/2 cents Friday, reversing the bearish mood and taking prices to their highest close in three weeks after USDA released encouraging export news. Corn and soybeans were also higher...

Following former President George H.W. Bush's memorial service Wednesday, grain markets got a rude awakening early Thursday with news of the arrest of a Chinese executive, possibly becoming an unexpected threat to trade talks...

December corn was down 1 3/4 cents, January soybeans were down 3/4 cent, and March K.C. wheat was down 5 1/2 cents.

March corn was up 4 1/4 cents, January soybeans were up 17 1/2 cents and March Kansas City wheat was up 5 cents.

March contracts of corn, soybeans and all three wheats finished higher Friday, showing positive expectations for this weekend's trade meeting between the leaders of the U.S. and China. December contracts of the three wheats...

Trading in grains was quieter overall Thursday with lower volumes posted one day ahead of this week's much-anticipated G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires. January soybeans were down 3 1/4 cents, while corn was steady and wheats were...

We still don't know how things will go in Buenos Aires later this week, but January soybeans jumped 15 cents higher after traders heard hopeful comments from China's President Xi Jinping to Spain's Parliament on Wednesday. Grains...

January soybeans recovered 13 1/4 cents of Monday's 18 3/4 cent loss as traders continue to show nerves ahead of Friday's G-20 meeting. Winter wheat prices erased Monday's modest gains and finished lower, likely pressured by...

January soybeans fell 18 3/4 cents Monday to their lowest close in November as traders showed concern about Friday's trade meeting between the U.S. and China in Buenos Aires. All three wheats on the other hand, got a modest lift...

A short, post-Thanksgiving trading session brought small losses to row crops amid light trading following another disappointing week of U.S. export sales. March K.C. wheat fell 7 cents, but Chicago wheat was up a 1/2 cent with help...

For a short week of pre-Thanksgiving trading, there were plenty of bearish concerns in the world, yet one big bullish trend continues.

In a quiet pre-holiday session in the grain sector, most contracts finished mixed with a couple of exceptions. The largest percentage gain was in January soybean oil, closing up 0.47, while the largest percentage loss belonged to a...