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Closing Market Report

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

Aug 19 | Closing Market Report

This August 19, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive update on agricultural commodities, field conditions, and global weather impacts. In the opening segment, Greg Johnson of Total Grain Marketing discusses recent fluctuations in corn and soybean prices, noting how farmer selling behaviors and the critical wild card of Chinese export purchases are influencing the market. Next, field scouts Sherman Newlin and Oliver Sloup share on-the-ground insights from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour in Iowa and Illinois, respectively, with both reporting underwhelming corn and soybean yields stemming from early-season weather stress and wet springs. Finally, meteorologist Drew Lerner highlights extreme global weather events—including severe flooding in the Philippines and historic drought in France—while emphasizing the U.S. Midwest's immediate need for warmer, drier conditions to support late-season crop maturation.

00:36 Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, Total Grain Marketing
08:31 Pro Farmer Crop Tour | Iowa and Illinois
14:45 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc.

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Aug 18 | Closing Market Report

The August 18, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive update on agricultural commodity markets, ongoing crop assessments, global energy supplies, and regional weather trends. Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing breaks down recent grain price movements, noting technical resistance, profit-taking in corn and soybeans, and international supply dynamics from Southeast Asia to the Black Sea. Pro Farmer Tour crop scouts Sherman Newlin and Oliver Sloup report day-two findings from the western and eastern legs of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour across South Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Indiana, detailing the effects of severe field moisture, variable plant populations, and disease pressure on yield expectations. Dave Chatterton of Strategic Farm Marketing analyzes agricultural energies, highlighting the market impact of expired diplomatic agreements, Middle Eastern shipping disruptions, and multi-decade lows in global distillate stocks ahead of the North American fall harvest. Finally, Don Day of Day Weather reviews the active thunderstorm pattern moving across the Midwest, forecasting a gradual moderation in rain intensity alongside cooler overnight temperatures in the weeks ahead.

01:18 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
07:25 Pro Farmer Crop Tour | Nebraska, Ohio, and Indiana
15:53 Ag Energies with Dave Chatterton, Strategic Farm Marketing
20:22 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather

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Aug 17 | Closing Market Report

The August 17, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report details current developments in agricultural markets, industry operations, and agronomic conditions. Economist Matt Maltzbarger outlines how elevated nitrogen costs and a forecasted Super El Niño are influencing the 2027 corn and soybean crop rotation strategies for producers. In industry news, Tyson Foods announced the closure of its Joslin, Illinois, meat packing plant due to excess capacity and tight cattle supplies, while Senate Agriculture Committee progress on the farm bill remains stalled over SNAP penalty disputes. Field observations from Sherman Newlin on the western leg of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour indicate significant drought stress and reduced yield estimates for corn and soybeans in South Dakota. Concluding the broadcast, meteorologist Mark Russo notes an upcoming reprieve from heavy rains across the Eastern Corn Belt and forecasts a shift toward cooler, wetter conditions in Europe that may aid winter crop preparations.

02:21 Ag Markets with Bob Maltzbarger, University of Missouri
10:51 Tyson Foods Closes Joslin, IL Packing Plant
14:09 Pro Farmer Crop Tour | South Dakota
17:35 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream Analytics

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Aug 14 | Closing Market Report

The August 14, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive overview of agricultural commodity markets, crop progress, and weather forecasts. Market analyst Mike Zuzolo highlights that wheat and crude oil are currently leading the commodity markets, driven by a combination of geopolitical tensions and supply-demand fundamentals. Extension Agronomist Giovani Preza Fontes details the Illinois corn crop's progression through the critical grain fill stage, noting that while record yields are unlikely, the crop remains strong and stands to benefit from recent rains if followed by sunny, warm days. Finally, meteorologist Eric Snodgrass discusses the heavy rainfall and severe storms currently impacting the Eastern corn belt, warning that a rapidly developing El Niño could result in a wet fall harvest domestically and delay the start of the planting season in South America.

01:13 Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, GlobalCommResearch.com
08:17 Grain Fill, Overnite Temps, and Rainfall
14:07 Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, NutrienAgSolutions.com

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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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