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Closing Market Report

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

May 04 | Closing Market Report

- Ag Markets with Curt Kimmel
- Pesticide Resistant Alfalfa Weevils
- Search Google for cropCentral
- Commodity Markets with Ed Usset
- Ag Weather with Mark Russo

The May 4, 2026, Closing Market Report highlights a strong rally in agricultural commodities, with corn and soybeans experiencing significant gains driven by global events, high crude oil prices, and speculative fund buying. Market analysts Curt Kimmel and Ed Usset emphasize that farmers should immediately capitalize on these higher price levels—such as $5.00 for December corn and $12.00 for November soybeans—to lock in profitable new-crop sales. 

In agronomic updates, entomologist Nick Seiter reports increasing pyrethroid insecticide resistance in alfalfa weevils across the Midwest and encourages producers to participate in a regional management survey. Finally, agricultural meteorologist Mark Russo notes that while the U.S. Corn Belt has faced unseasonably cold and dry weather, planting continues at a steady pace, and Europe is forecasted to receive beneficial rainfall to relieve recent dry conditions.

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May 01 | Closing Market Report

- Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, GlobalCommResearch.com  
- Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, NutrienAgSolutions.com


The May 1, 2026, Closing Market Report features agricultural insights from market analyst Mike Zuzolo and meteorologist Eric Snodgrass. 

Zuzolo highlights that corn and wheat prices are currently finding support from energy markets, delayed U.S. planting due to poor weather, and a historic drought threatening Brazil's second-crop safrinha corn. He also warns of a deteriorating U.S. hard red winter wheat crop and potential energy market disruptions stemming from ongoing tensions in the Middle East. 

On the weather front, Snodgrass recaps the recent severe storms and tornadoes across Illinois, forecasting a shift toward cooler, drier conditions for the first half of May that will bring regional frost risks. Looking ahead to the summer, Snodgrass notes that a developing El Niño and current Pacific Ocean temperatures suggest the Midwest may experience a stormier, cooler-than-average season rather than extreme, yield-threatening heat.

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Apr 30 | Closing Market Report

- Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, @AgMarket_Net
- US House Passes Farm Bill Legislation
- Illinois Farm Financials Reviewed
- Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, @TstormWeather

This April 30, 2026, Closing Market Report covers updates on agricultural markets, farm legislation, farm financials, and global weather. Analyst Matt Bennett noted that heavy rains have paused Midwest farming activities, while severe, persistent drought in the western plains has likely caused irreversible damage to the hard red winter wheat crop. 

On the legislative front, Jonathan Coppess reported that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a modernized farm bill, though it faces an uncertain future and significant challenges in the Senate. 

Reviewing farm financials, Brad Zwilling explained that while average farm debt-to-asset ratios have remained stable at 18%, the debt per acre has climbed to nearly $900, which is driving up interest expenses for producers. 

Finally, meteorologist Mike Tannura confirmed the severe drought damage to southern winter wheat and observed that while the southeastern Corn Belt is experiencing cool, wet weather that may slow crop growth, the drier conditions in the northwest are currently providing an ideal environment for planting.

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Apr 29 | Closing Market Report

- Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, TGM
- Kansas Hard Red Winter Wheat Abandonment
- Ethanol, Carbon Markets, and Corn Prices
- Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, @worldwx

The April 29, 2026, Closing Market Report covers updates on agricultural markets, crop conditions, and weather forecasts. Greg Johnson of TGM notes that while Midwest farmers are making steady planting progress, recent price rallies—driven by poor western wheat conditions and global factors—have prompted some opportunistic new crop sales. Dan O'Brien from Kansas State University highlights that poor weather may lead to the abandonment of some hard red winter wheat in Kansas, though current high prices might persuade producers to harvest what they can rather than destroy the crop. Finally, meteorologist Drew Lerner reports on recent and upcoming freezing temperatures threatening the Great Lakes region, a brief drying window for Midwestern planting, and potential moisture stress for Brazil's safrinha corn crop.


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Apr 28 | Closing Market Report

- Naomi Blohm, TotalFarmMarketing.com
- RFS Rule's Impact on BioMass Based Diesel RINs
- Don Day, DayWeather.com

The April 28, 2026, Closing Market Report covers updates on agricultural markets, federal renewable fuel standards, and national weather forecasts. Naomi Blohm highlights a rapid planting pace for corn and soybeans across the Midwest, contrasted by stalled progress in Wisconsin due to heavy rains. She also notes that poor winter wheat conditions and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Black Sea are driving up wheat futures. 

Following the market update, agricultural economist Todd Hubbs explains that new Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates will push domestic biomass-based diesel production to its limits. He details that a structural shortfall in D6 (corn ethanol) RINs requires a backfill using D4 (biomass diesel) RINs, which is expected to sharply increase demand for feedstocks like soybeans or other oilseeds over the next two years. 

Finally, meteorologist Don Day forecasts a weather shift that will bring beneficial rain to the drought-stricken Delta and Southeast regions, though severe dryness is expected to persist across the hard red winter wheat areas of the central and western Plains.

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Apr 27 | Closing Market Report

- Curt Kimmel, AgMarket.net
- Middle East Ceasefire Fails to Ease Fertilizer Price Surge
- farmdoc Webinar on Controlling Costs 11am Thursday
- Chad Hart, Iowa State University
- Mark Russo, EverStream.ai

This April 27, 2026, agricultural market report highlights upward price movements across corn, soybeans, and wheat futures. Market analyst Curt Kimmel attributes the soybean rally to the European Union rejecting Argentine soybean meal cargoes due to the presence of the drought-resistant HB4 gene, while corn prices were supported by dry conditions in Brazil. 

Domestically, ongoing conflict in the Middle East has kept nitrogen fertilizer prices high, adding an estimated $30 to $55 per acre to 2026 corn crop costs. Iowa State economist 

Chad Hart noted that commodity prices are currently benefiting from both war and weather premiums, pointing out the contrast between widespread U.S. drought and overly wet planting conditions in parts of Iowa and Illinois. 

Finally, meteorologist Mark Russo forecasted a normal, albeit slightly cooler, spring weather pattern for the U.S. Corn Belt, while noting continued dryness in the western Plains, snow-delayed planting in the Canadian prairies, and generally favorable late-season conditions for Brazil's safrinha corn crop.

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Apr 24 | Closing Market Report

- Mike Zuzolo, GlobalCommResearch.com
- WILLAg News | Data Center Moratorium & USDA's TOTAL
- Eric Snodgrass, NutrienAgSolutions.com

The April 24, 2026, closing market report details agricultural commodity trends, local land-use policy, and seasonal weather forecasts. Market analyst Mike Zuzolo notes rapid planting progress across the central United States but warns that hard red winter wheat faces a critical 45-day window where drought and late-spring storms could severely diminish yields. He emphasizes that commodity volatility is currently driven by high-frequency trading, shifting USDA acreage estimates, rising crude oil prices, and international geopolitical tensions. 

In regional news, the Champaign County Board approved a 12-month moratorium on new data centers to evaluate local aquifer demands and establish comprehensive zoning standards. Additionally, a newly released USDA survey indicates that 340 million acres of U.S. agricultural land are rented out, highlighting a stark contrast in absentee landownership between the Plains and the Midwest. 

Concluding with the weather outlook, meteorologist Eric Snodgrass contrasts the ongoing severe thunderstorm and tornado risks in the Plains and Midwest with deep, persistent drought conditions in the Southeast and Ohio River Valley. Snodgrass anticipates a brief period of cooler temperatures dropping down from Canada and cautions that an early end to the monsoon season in Brazil's Cerrado threatens the finish of their second-crop corn.

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