Top 5 Things to Watch

USDA Prospective Plantings Estimates, Next Round of Tariffs, More Active Weather

(DTN/Progressive Farmer graphic)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of March 30. Watch for coverage of these and other topics through the week on our subscription platforms as well as on www.DTNPF.com.

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

1. Prospective Plantings Monday: We start the week with the March 31 USDA Grain Stocks and Prospective Plantings reports, which hits at 11 a.m. DTN's flash report on the numbers will hit minutes later, with updates and analysis throughout the hour. At 12:30 p.m. we'll have our webinar and question-and-answer session about the reports with DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery. You can register for the free webinar here: https://www.dtn.com/…. For his preview of the report, go here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

2. Report reactions: There's a bit of breath holding going on around that March 31 report, as Montgomery lays out in his preview piece. While we continue to hear a leaning toward more corn, any surprises on the low acreage side, and the growing concern of dry weather this year, could create some fireworks in the markets. We'll all be geniuses by lunchtime Monday.

3. Wednesday deadline: April 2 is the announced beginning of the next round of trade tariffs. We'll be watching for market action, and global reactions, if they come to pass.

4. More active weather: As we rolled into the weekend, there was an increased chance of severe weather across parts of the Midwest and upper South. Hopefully this isn't a repeat of the systems that caused devastation March 14-16. Be prepared and be safe.

5. Economic reports for the week: Monday at 10 a.m. the weekly Grain Inspections data are out, then at 11 a.m. is the USDA Grain Stocks and Prospective Planting (see item No. 1 above.) At 1 p.m. the Core Trend Inflation report is due, followed by 2 p.m. release of Agricultural Prices from NASS. Tuesday at 9 a.m. we'll see Construction Spending and Job Openings reports. At 2 p.m. is Fats and Oils and Grain Crushings data. Wednesday reports start early with 7:15 a.m. release of ADP Employment data. At 9 a.m. we'll see Factory Orders numbers, then Broiler Hatchery numbers at 2 p.m. Thursday, Export Sales data is out at 7:30 a.m., along with Initial Jobless Claims and U.S. Trade Deficit numbers. At 10:30 a.m. the Weekly Economic Index numbers are out, then at 2 p.m. the Slaughter Weekly report. Friday at 7:30 a.m. comes the U.S. Employment report and the Unemployment rate and Hourly Wages data. At 11 a.m. the latest Livestock and Meat Trade Data are released. At 2 p.m. is Dairy Products, then at 2:30 p.m. the CFTC Commitment of Traders report.

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