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Closing Market Report

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

Aug 13 | Closing Market Report

The August 13, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report examines recent commodity market trends, edge-of-field conservation technologies, and weather-related crop stress. Dave Chatterton analyzes the corn market's response to lower-than-expected USDA yield estimates, highlighting the negative impact of sustained high overnight temperatures on grain fill and competitive pressures from Argentine exports. Rabin Bhattarai outlines the mechanics and environmental benefits of woodchip bioreactors and drainage water management systems, which mitigate nitrate runoff and optimize field water retention. Finally, meteorologist Mike Tannura discusses the agronomic effects of current weather patterns, emphasizing that while recent rainfall has been largely adequate, unusually warm overnight temperatures are significantly reducing crop productivity across the Corn Belt.

01:47 Dave Chatterton, Strategic Farm Marketing
08:08 Two Edge of Field Conservation Practices
16:13 Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, Tstorm.net

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Aug 12 | Closing Market Report

The August 12, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive overview of the latest USDA crop production numbers and global agricultural weather. Greg Johnson of Total Grain Marketing joins the program to analyze the market's reaction to the USDA data, noting that unexpected increases in corn and soybean planted acres were offset by lowered yield estimates, resulting in tighter ending stocks and a boost to prices. Following this market breakdown, meteorologist Drew Lerner from World Weather Inc. outlines the weather landscape, detailing recent severe storm impacts in the Midwest, ongoing dryness in parts of the U.S. and Western Europe, and generally favorable crop conditions across the Black Sea region and China.

01:11 USDA Report Numbers in Review
03:36 Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, Total Grain Marketing
13:56 Edge of Field Conservation Practices Field Day in Cisco Tomorrow
14:39 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc.

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Aug 11 | Closing Market Report

The August 11, 2026 edition of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason for Illinois Public Media, opens with market commentary and a preview of the upcoming USDA WASDE and crop production reports featuring Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing. Blohm highlights expectations for corn and soybean yield figures, technical trading trends, and broader market drivers such as European drought conditions and energy sector influences. Following a review of the latest USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report—which notes steady national development alongside accelerated progress in Minnesota—Gleason previews an upcoming insect management plot tour with extension entomologist Nick Seiter.

The program then features Dr. Adam Davis, head of the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois College of ACES, who discusses the 150th anniversary of the Morrow Plots. Davis details the historical significance of the world's second-oldest experimental agricultural field, key long-term findings on soil management and crop rotation, recent site revitalization efforts, public celebration plans for October 28, and the introduction of the new Alma Mater plots. Closing out the broadcast, meteorologist Don Day of Day Weather reports from the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, detailing a "ring of fire" weather pattern across the Corn Belt that brings heat, muggy nights, and heavy localized rainfall, while analyzing how a strong El Niño could influence the upcoming harvest season.

  • 02:00 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
  • 12:05 Insect Management Plot Tour Tomorrow
  • 12:54 150th Anniversary of the Morrow Plots
  • 17:21 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather
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Aug 10 | Closing Market Report

The August 10, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive overview of agricultural markets, safety, politics, and weather. The program begins with an analysis by North Dakota State University agricultural economist Frayne Olson, who explains how investment funds shifting capital between stocks and energy indexes are driving current volatility in grain prices, while local basis levels work to regulate actual grain flow. Following a brief announcement regarding the inauguration of the University of Illinois' Alma Mater Plots, Purdue University's Bill Field discusses the ongoing dangers of grain bin entrapments, emphasizing that accident prevention and grain quality management are more critical than post-incident rescue training. The broadcast then covers the stalled Senate Farm Bill, noting that partisan disagreements over SNAP funding and election-year politics have delayed its passage. Finally, Everstream Analytics' Mark Russo delivers an agricultural weather update, highlighting persistent heat and humidity in the Midwest, localized dry pockets in the western Corn Belt, and active Pacific tropical cyclones temporarily impacting Chinese shipping ports.

02:00 Commodity Markets Discussion with Frayne Olson
12:25 Alma Mater Plots Inauguration Tuesday @ 7:45am
13:37 Grain Bin Deaths Persist
16:00 Election Politics Drags Down Farm Bill
18:14 Ag Weather with Mark Russo

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Aug 08 | Closing Market Report

The August 7th edition of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive overview of current agricultural markets, agronomic research, and weather trends. The broadcast opens with market analyst Mike Zuzolo, who breaks down how currency fluctuations, international trade sanctions, and global weather concerns are impacting commodity prices ahead of the highly anticipated USDA WASDE and Crop Productions reports. The program then shifts to crop science, featuring researchers Connor Sible and Jared Fender from the University of Illinois. They share practical takeaways from the recent Crop Physiology Field Day, specifically highlighting how farmers can improve fertilizer efficiency and yields by matching specific corn hybrid root architectures with proper nutrient placement. The episode concludes with a forecast from meteorologist Eric Snodgrass, who discusses the unpredictable nature of summer convective rainfall, the silver lining of cooler August temperatures for drought-stressed crops, and the potential long-term impacts of a historically strong El Niño pattern on South American agriculture.

00:31 Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, GlobalCommResearch.com
07:27 Crop Physiology Field Day, Connor Sible
10:54 The Corn RootBall & Fertilizer Placement
15:56 Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, NutrienAgSolutions.com

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Aug 05 | Closing Market Report

The August 5, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report provides a comprehensive overview of commodity markets, sustainable energy integration, and agricultural weather. The program begins with a review of daily market prices before transitioning to an interview with agricultural economist Ed Usset, who analyzes crop conditions ahead of the upcoming USDA production report and offers pricing strategies for the approaching harvest. Next, Madhu Khanna discusses the SCAPES project and the economic viability of agrivoltaics, explaining how shade tolerance and regional climates dictate the success of co-locating crops with solar panels. The episode concludes with a detailed weather outlook from meteorologist Drew Lerner, who examines El Niño's impact on global growing regions, including Asia and the U.S. Corn Belt.

01:57 Ag Markets with Ed Usset, University of Minnesota
08:33 Understanding the Economics Agrivoltaics
14:58 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc.

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Aug 04 | Closing Market Report

The August 4, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive overview of agricultural commodity markets, crop conditions, bioenergy trends, and regional weather forecasts. Market analyst Naomi Blohm discusses the recent drop in corn and soybean futures, attributing the shift to incoming rainfall across the Midwest that has eased weather concerns, alongside recent technical market movements. Host Todd Gleason then reviews the USDA crop progress report, highlighting that national corn and soybean development is pacing ahead of historical averages, and notes that the Crop Protection Network currently assesses a low risk for tar spot disease across most of the Midwest. Later in the program, Dan O'Brien of Kansas State University Extension explores the moderate profitability of the U.S. ethanol industry and explains how 45Z tax regulations are creating distinct advantages for low-carbon bioenergy producers and renewable diesel. Finally, meteorologist Don Day from Day Weather anticipates a transition toward a more normal August pattern, forecasting that returning subtropical moisture will bring necessary rain to much of the Corn Belt, although areas like Texas and Oklahoma are expected to remain hot and dry.

01:14 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
07:32 Crop Progress, Conditions, and Outliers
09:28 Crop Progress, Conditions, and Outliers
10:54 Ag Energies with Dan O'Brien, K-State Extension
20:37 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather

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Aug 03 | Closing Market Report

The August 3, 2026, episode of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive overview of agricultural commodity markets, biofuel industry developments, and global weather forecasts. Market analyst Jerry Gulke discusses the recent uptrend in corn and soybean prices, advising producers on risk management and hedging strategies to navigate changing market fundamentals. In agricultural news, a report by Stephanie Hoff highlights how the EPA's increased renewable volume obligations are successfully boosting biodiesel production and creating jobs. Driven by this biofuel policy, ADM also announced investments to expand its North American oilseed crush capacity across several states. Finally, meteorologist Mark Russo provides a weather update, noting beneficial widespread rains and moderate temperatures across the U.S. Midwest. However, he warns of a severe crop-damaging drought in Western Europe, expanding dryness in Southeast Asia, and the potential for a wet U.S. fall harvest fueled by a rapidly strengthening super El Niño.

00:58 Ag Markets with Jerry Gulke, Gulke Group
09:20 Higher Renewable Volume Obligations Fuel Industry Growth
14:19 ADM Investing in Crush Capacity
15:45 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream Analytics

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Jul 31 | Closing Market Report

The July 31, 2026, episode of the Closing Market Report features host Todd Gleason speaking with market analyst Mike Zuzolo and meteorologist Eric Snodgrass. Zuzolo outlines how current geopolitical tensions, including tariffs, sanctions, and expanding global conflicts, are driving market volatility and influencing asset rotation out of equities and into commodities, despite high bond yields. He also notes poor crop conditions in Europe and suggests upcoming USDA reports could lower U.S. corn yield expectations, though demand remains a critical unknown. Snodgrass provides a weather update, noting that intense heat has severely stressed crops in the Western Corn Belt—causing potentially significant yield losses—while the eastern regions remain in better condition. Looking ahead, Snodgrass anticipates a moderation in U.S. temperatures for August but warns that an impending, historic El Niño could disrupt South American planting seasons and complicate the upcoming U.S. fall harvest.

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Jul 30 | Closing Market Report

The July 30, 2026, episode of the Closing Market Report covers recent developments in agricultural commodity markets, industry news, consumer trends, and regional weather forecasts. Market analyst Matt Bennett discusses the recent downturn in soybean and corn futures, attributing the market's sell-off to anticipated weekend rainfall across the dry Corn Belt. The agricultural news segment briefly highlights upcoming Farm Bill markup negotiations, updated USDA wetland determinations, and an expected increase in farmland supply entering the fall sales season. Next, CoBank livestock economist Abby Groves explains the rapid expansion of the $4.4 billion meat snack industry, noting that the 45% category growth is largely driven by consumers seeking convenient, high-protein options and the rising use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications. Concluding the broadcast, meteorologist Mike Tannura reviews the exceptionally warm and dry conditions of the past 15 days that have negatively impacted crop ratings, while forecasting a strong incoming weather system expected to bring one to three inches of stabilizing rain across the Midwest.

01:22 Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, AgMarket.net
07:38 WILLAg News Update
10:15 Meat Snacks: Market Growth, GLP-1s, & Innovation
17:28 Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, Tstorm.net

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