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Closing Market Report

Today's wrap-up on the agricultural markets: news, analysis, and weather

Jul 24 | Closing Market Report

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The July 24, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive overview of current agricultural commodities and weather forecasts. Market analyst Dan Basse outlines a bullish, demand-driven outlook for corn and soybeans, citing European droughts, Black Sea conflicts, and expanding US biofuel consumption, while advising producers to utilize marketing tools that maintain upside potential. Following the market analysis, meteorologist Eric Snodgrass details a stark regional divide in crop conditions, noting that severe heat and dryness are heavily stressing the Western Corn Belt while eastern regions fare much better. Snodgrass also cautions that a historic, rapidly intensifying El Niño could lead to a wet, difficult autumn harvest.

01:22 Ag Markets with Dan Basse, AgResource Company
09:41 Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions

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Jul 23 | Closing Market Report

The July 23, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report examines commodity market volatility, political gridlock affecting agricultural policy, and highly concerning weather forecasts. Matt Bennett of AgMarket.net highlights new contract highs in November soybeans, attributing current market dynamics to geopolitical conflicts in the Black Sea and Iran, combined with the threat of dry weather in the Corn Belt. In political news, legislative progress on the Farm Bill and other GOP initiatives remains stalled due to Mitch McConnell's health-related absence and the passing of Lindsey Graham, which has left Republicans without key committee majorities. Meanwhile, the Renewable Fuels Association is heavily promoting new polling data demonstrating 73 percent bipartisan voter support for year-round E15 gasoline sales in an effort to overcome Senate roadblocks. Finally, Mike Tannura of Tstorm Weather warns that while 30-day rainfall totals appear average, the most recent 15 days were historically dry, and predictive models for the next 14 days project potentially record-breaking heat and drought conditions across major corn and soybean producing regions.

02:06 Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, AgMarket.net
07:55 McConnell's Absence, Graham's Death Hobble GOP Initiatives
09:48 RFA Uses Voter Polling Data to Support E15
17:02 Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, Tstorm Weather

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Jul 22 | Closing Market Report

The July 22, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive update on agricultural markets, policy news, and weather forecasts. Market analyst Greg Johnson highlights a recent rally in soybean and wheat prices fueled by strong domestic crush demand and geopolitical tensions in the Black Sea, which has encouraged cash sales among Central Illinois farmers. The news segment covers significant staffing reductions at local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices that threaten conservation programs, alongside a report on the looming economic impact of new Section 301 tariffs following a recent Supreme Court ruling. Finally, meteorologist Drew Lerner offers a weather outlook, noting favorable crop conditions in the eastern Corn Belt while warning of persistent heat and dryness that threaten crops and livestock across the western plains, the Dakotas, and the Delta region.

01:56 Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, TGM Total Grain Marketing
10:57 24 Illinois Counties Lose Half or All NRCS Staffing
11:59 Trump Tariffs Still Looming over Economy
14:33 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc.

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Jul 21 | Closing Market Report

The July 21, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides an overview of agricultural commodity markets, crop conditions, energy prices, and weather forecasts. Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing analyzes recent rallies in wheat and soybean futures, attributing market movements to European droughts and ongoing geopolitical tensions, while cautioning producers about potential price pullbacks. The broadcast details the latest USDA Crop Progress Report, noting that corn and soybean development is ahead of historical averages across much of the Midwest, and provides an update on tar spot tracking from the Crop Protection Network. Dave Chatterton of Strategic Farm Marketing discusses the volatility in agricultural energies, warning that escalating conflicts in the Middle East and the Black Sea, combined with low strategic petroleum reserves, pose upside risks for fall diesel and fertilizer prices. Finally, Don Day of Day Weather outlines a hot and dry forecast for the northern and western Corn Belt, highlighting concerns about potential crop stress during the critical August period.

01:15 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing 
08:21 USDA Crop Progress Report 
10:48 Crop Protection Network Update 
12:55 Ag Energies with Dave Chatterton, Strategic Farm Marketing 
19:55 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather

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Jul 20 | Closing Market Report

The Monday edition of the Closing Market Report provides a factual overview of commodity markets, international trade logistics, and weather forecasts for July 20, 2026. During the segment, analyst Curt Kimmel attributes immediate gains in corn and soybean futures to ongoing Black Sea conflicts, European drought, and Chinese export purchases. The report also outlines the finalized July 27 opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, detailing its revised net-revenue toll agreement between Michigan and Canada. Furthermore, economist Ben Brown analyzes the market anomaly of robust Chinese demand for U.S. soybeans despite uncompetitive domestic pricing. Concluding the report, meteorologist Mark Russo notes that while the U.S. Corn Belt faces drier-than-normal conditions without threatening heat, Europe continues to endure severe, crop-damaging heatwaves.

01:19 Ag Markets with Curt Kimmel, AgMarket.net 
06:18 New Trade Route Between Canada and U.S. to Open 
10:31 Ag Markets Discussion with Ben Brown, University of Minnesota 
19:08 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream.ai

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Jul 16 | Closing Market Report

The July 16, 2026 edition of the Closing Market Report covers commodity markets, soil management research, and regional agricultural weather patterns. Host Todd Gleason opens the program from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting event in Kansas City, sharing first-hand observations of resilient midwestern corn crops despite recent heat waves. Market analyst Matt Bennett of AgMarket.net discusses current wheat and energy price volatility driven by geopolitical factors, noting that while the corn crop is progressing well through pollination, upcoming weather conditions will determine the extent of market premiums. University of Illinois PhD student Blake Link reports from the Orr Research Center on the expanding necessity of sulfur fertilizers across the Corn Belt, explaining the different forms of sulfur applications and their chemical effects on soil acidity. Finally, Mike Tannura of Tstorm Weather provides a global and domestic agricultural weather outlook, highlighting a temperature divide between a hotter northern region and a milder south, the potential for early-season monsoonal rains in August, and the localized atmospheric impacts of seasonal wildfire smoke on crop photosynthesis and daytime temperatures.

01:10 Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, AgMarket.net 
08:38 Evaluating the Need for Sulfur Fertilizers in the Corn Belt 
16:03 Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, Tstorm.net

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Jul 15 | Closing Market Report

The July 15, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report highlights the current agricultural commodity markets and upcoming weather patterns influencing crop production. Host Todd Gleason discusses a recent surge in wheat futures driven by supply fears following Russian military attacks on Ukrainian ports, particularly Odesa, shifting the focus away from traditional weather factors. In the ag market segment, Greg Johnson notes that Central Illinois crops are generally performing well, prompting farmers to hold out for stronger prices, though fund activity remains neutral to long. Additionally, the program details upcoming regional agricultural events, including University of Illinois Extension field days and webinars focused on soybean breeding and agricultural AI applications.

The second half of the program transitions to regional and international ag weather with Drew Lerner from World Weather Inc.. Lerner breaks down the stressful but manageable heat impacts across the northern Corn Belt, noting that while the upper Missouri River Basin faces high temperatures and dryness, areas like the Red River Valley are insulated by recent heavy rainfall. The international segment details a severe and expanding drought in Western Europe, where central France and the UK face massive precipitation deficits threatening summer crops like sugar beets. Conversely, weather conditions remain favorable for crop maturation in the Black Sea region, making the current market volatility strictly a reflection of regional war developments rather than climate failures.

01:21 Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, Total Grain Marketing 
11:59 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc.

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Jul 14 | Closing Market Report

The July 14, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report highlights shifting grain dynamics, regional crop conditions, and agricultural energy concerns amid escalating global conflicts. Market analyst Naomi Blohm notes that a recent shift to slightly cooler nighttime temperatures has taken some heat pressure out of corn and soybean prices, while wheat experiences a war premium driven by renewed tensions in the Black Sea region. Nationally, crop progress remains steady, though states west of the Mississippi—particularly Minnesota and Iowa—are significantly outperforming eastern Corn Belt states like Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Energy expert Susan Stroud addresses the growing volatility in the diesel market, explaining how supply crunches in Europe, domestic biofuel mandates, and the continued depletion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve are squeezing fuel availability ahead of the fall harvest. Finally, meteorologist Don Day warns that a stubborn high-pressure ridge will sustain well-above-average temperatures and dry conditions across the northern tier and western Corn Belt for the next 10 to 12 days.

01:15 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
07:30 USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report
09:29 Crop Protection Network Disease Report
10:47 AgriNext & Energies with Susan Stroud, No Bull Ag
20:59 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather

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Jul 13 | Closing Market Report

The July 13, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report covered critical updates in domestic agricultural production, global energy markets, and shifting weather patterns impacting the U.S. corn belt. Curt Kimmel of AgMarket.net analyzed the day's sharp rise in crude oil and grain futures, tying the market's upward momentum to localized heat stress in the western corn belt, declining crop condition ratings, and sudden escalations in Middle East war tensions. Expanding on these geopolitical developments, North Dakota State University Extension Economist Frayne Olson discussed the severe impact of a newly announced U.S. military escort fee for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, alongside the logistics disruption caused by Ukrainian drone attacks near the Sea of Azov. Olson noted that while these conflicts introduce a supportive risk premium for U.S. grain exports, their long-term effects will primarily filter through volatile international energy markets. Finally, meteorologist Mark Russo of EverStream Analytics provided a near-term weather outlook, reporting that while threatening pollination heat will temporarily persist in the northwest Midwest, a retrogressing ridge of high pressure will bring cooler temperatures by the weekend. However, Russo warned that an impending shift toward a suppressed, northwest flow jet stream pattern could signal a prolonged dry spell moving into critical pod-development stages for soybeans in early August.

01:11 Ag Markets with Curt Kimmel, AgMarket.net
06:53 Commodity Market Discussion with Frayne Olson, NDSU
18:46 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream Analytics

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Jul 10 | Closing Market Report

The July 10, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report highlights University of Illinois agricultural research and economic analysis. The program begins with an interview featuring soybean breeder Eliana Monteverde, who details how her team utilizes the USDA germplasm bank to develop new commercial soybean varieties with stacked pest resistance and modified amino acid profiles. Following this, the broadcast presents a comprehensive presentation by agricultural economist Bruce Sherrick on the macroeconomic drivers of farmland values. Sherrick examines how factors such as global production disparities, domestic inflation, crop insurance subsidies, and renewable energy land-use influence the long-term investment stability and profitability of agricultural real estate.

01:36 Soybean Breeding Research and a Field Day with Eliana Monteverde, University of Illinois
14:42 Land Values Discussion with Bruce Sherrick, University of Illinois

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