Todd E. Gleason🎙🇺🇸

This week I had the honor of being invested in a new position: The Clearing Corporation Foundation Endowed Associate Professorship in Derivatives Trading at the University of Illinois.

May 14 | Commodity Week Panelist - Greg Johnson, TGM Total Grain Marketing - Chip Nellinger, Blue Reef Agri-Marketing - Brian Stark, The Andersons The May 14 edition of Commodity Week, hosted by Todd Gleason, features panelists Greg Johnson, Chip Nellinger, and Brian Stark analyzing several critical agricultural market drivers. The panel extensively reviews the latest USDA WASDE report, highlighting a projected 3-million-acre reduction in corn plantings and emphasizing a slim margin for error in global crop supplies. They also note an unexpected decrease in total corn demand alongside an increase in soybean demand. Geopolitical tensions factor heavily into the market outlook, with the panel observing negative market reactions to the lack of immediate agricultural purchase agreements following recent US-China meetings, particularly as China currently relies on cheaper Brazilian soybeans. Additionally, they discuss the broader macroeconomic risks of crude oil hovering near $100 per barrel while markets await further clarity regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Shifting to domestic factors and producer strategies, the panelists advise farmers to capitalize on strong eastern cash basis levels and recent market rallies. Specifically, they suggest rewarding $12 soybean futures with sales, while indicating less urgency to sell $5 corn unless summer weather issues materialize. On the policy front, the House's passage of year-round E15 ethanol legislation is characterized as a long-term infrastructure development rather than an immediate demand shock. Finally, the panel observes that Midwest crop planting progress remains highly sporadic due to variable wet and dry weather conditions. share.transistor.fm/s/63c557f0

May 14 | Closing Market Report - @AgMarket_Net with Matt Bennett - E15, SREs, the Farm Bill, the Senate, and Biofuels - Sen. Tillis Riffs on Ag Policy & China - Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, @TstormWeather The May 14th Closing Market Report details declining agricultural commodity prices, legislative developments, and global crop weather. Grain markets closed significantly lower following the President's visit to China, which yielded no new trade agreement on soybean, a situation compounded by varying weather conditions affecting domestic crops.  In Washington, the US House narrowly passed a bill permitting year-round E15 fuel sales, which now faces an uncertain future in the Senate alongside ongoing 2026 Farm Bill negotiations. Additionally, Senator Thom Tillis outlined national security concerns regarding Chinese investments in US farmland and meat processing facilities.  Weather analysis indicates severe drought is threatening northern US spring wheat and varying precipitation is impacting the Corn Belt, while Europe receives beneficial rains and Brazil's second corn crop faces early dry season challenges. share.transistor.fm/s/0717e877

The House has passed the permanent year-round E15 bill. It was a tight vote. The Senate will be an interesting debate.

May 13 | Closing Market Report - Ag Markets with Greg Johnson - Ragged Corn but a Good Start for @ILextension Crops - Ag Weather with Drew Lerner @worldwx In the May 13, 2026 edition of the Closing Market Report, host Todd Gleason discusses agricultural markets, planting progress, and weather conditions with three industry experts.  Greg Johnson of TGM highlights a recent market rally driven by USDA significantly lowering yield and acreage estimates for hard red winter wheat, and he advises farmers to consider catching up on soybean crop sales while prices remain high. ' Next, University of Illinois agronomist Giovani Preza Fontes reports that Illinois corn and soybean planting is ahead of schedule, noting that the crops are off to a solid start despite some uneven emergence caused by fluctuating April temperatures.  Finally, meteorologist Drew Lerner forecasts welcome warming across the Midwest corn belt, though he warns that impending heat and low humidity will further stress the already struggling hard red winter wheat crops in the High Plains. share.transistor.fm/s/76d40fab

NEWS — SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON just told house republicans that the leadership will not whip the E15 bill. They’re treating it as a vote of conscious. The legislation, pushed by the Midwesterners, allows year-round sale of E15.

May 12 | Closing Market Report - Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm - WILLAg News | Senate Farm Bill, Beef Imports, Trump v Xi - E15 Supports Hold Press Conference on the Capitol Steps - Ag Weather with Don Day The May 12, 2026, Closing Market Report details a confluence of critical agricultural market data, legislative stalemates, and international trade developments.  Market analyst Naomi Blohm noted that while the latest USDA WASDE report offered a surprising bump in soybean export and crush demand, markets remain hesitant ahead of a highly anticipated Beijing summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, where U.S. Senators are already heavily lobbying for increased agricultural exports.  Domestically, agricultural policy faces significant friction; Senator Charles Grassley indicated the Senate farm bill is likely stalled over SNAP reform disputes, and the Trump administration's move to increase beef import flexibility has divided the domestic cattle industry. Conversely, bipartisan momentum is building in the House for permanent, year-round E15 fuel legislation, championed by Representative Nikki Budzinski as a crucial stabilizer for rural economies.  Meteorologically, the U.S. Corn Belt is expected to transition from an unseasonably cool pattern to warmer, stormier conditions, while Brazil’s safrinha corn region trends unfavorably dry. share.transistor.fm/s/d9a644a7

USDA WASDE S&D Table WHEAT

USDA WASDE S&D Table SOYBEAN

USDA WASDE S&D Table CORN

May 11 | Closing Market Report - Ag Markets with Curt Kimmel - International Year of the Woman Farmer Commentary - Phosphorus Loads & Streambanks The May 11, 2026, Closing Market Report hosted by Todd Gleason covers agricultural market trends, policy commentary, and soil research. Curt Kimmel of agmarket.net analyzes market dynamics, emphasizing the influence of upcoming USDA crop reports, planting progress, and commodity funds on corn and soybean prices. Gleason follows with a brief commentary questioning the Trump administration's unexplained decision to deny appointments to four women on the United Soybean Board. In the final segment, University of Illinois soil scientist Andrew Margenot details his research on streambank erosion, explaining it as a major non-point source of phosphorus pollution in waterways and outlining mitigation strategies such as buffering wetlands and reconsidering ditch channelization. share.transistor.fm/s/b695e9c7

@PitstickFarms @dtnpf @ILSoybean @commodityweek @elliottuphoff @UnSoybeanBo @USDA @SecRollins @RepMaryMiller @Tyne_Ag @ChrisClaytonDTN What light can you shine on this subject. dtnpf.com/agriculture/we…

May 08 | Closing Market Report - Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo - Power, Politics, and Pushback on Data Centers - Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass The May 8, 2026, Closing Market Report covers agricultural markets, local infrastructure debates, and weather forecasts. Market analyst Mike Zuzolo notes a sharp rise in soybean prices, driven by energy market fluctuations and anticipation of soybean orders from an upcoming Trump-Xi summit in China.  Lincoln resident Allison Isley voices community opposition to a proposed 500-megawatt hyperscale data center in Logan County, citing concerns over its massive power consumption, environmental impact, and disruption to the rural quality of life.  Finally, meteorologist Eric Snodgrass outlines a weather forecast featuring a transition from a cool, wet early May to warmer, drier conditions suitable for planting, while warning of an unprecedented upcoming El Niño event that could significantly impact global summer weather and South American crop yields. share.transistor.fm/s/a6ea88f5

May 07 | Commodity Week Panelists - Garrett Toay, AgTraderTalk.com - Mike Zuzolo, GlobalCommResearch.com The May 7 edition of Commodity Week features analysts Mike Zuzolo and Garrett Toay discussing current agricultural and energy market conditions. The panel notes that while recent rains have aided corn and soybean planting in parts of Kansas and Illinois, dry conditions have led to significant abandonment of hard red winter wheat in states like Kansas and Nebraska. The analysts draw parallels between tightening supplies in the wheat and crude oil markets, attributing the latter to macroeconomic factors such as geopolitical conflicts, military actions affecting Venezuelan and Iranian oil, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. These structural uncertainties, alongside a pending meeting between Trump and Xi and the upcoming USDA WASDE report, are heavily influencing agricultural trade, particularly concerning Chinese demand for US soybeans and the influx of Brazilian beef. Given the high market volatility, both analysts advise producers to rely on paper positions rather than immediate cash sales. share.transistor.fm/s/86c1701d

May 07 | Closing Market Report - Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, @AgMarket_Net - WILLAg News Update | USDA, USB, Women, and SNAP - Applied Research Results from @IllinoisCropSci - Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, @TstormWeather The May 7, 2026, episode of the Closing Market Report features a variety of agricultural updates, beginning with analyst Matt Bennett discussing the sideways trade in corn futures, planting delays caused by wet Midwestern weather, and the impact of crude oil prices and international politics on oilseed markets. Additionally, the program covers agricultural news, noting the USDA's unexplained dismissal of several United Soybean Board members and the implementation of stricter nutritional stocking requirements for retailers in the SNAP program. University of Illinois entomologist Nick Seiter also joins the broadcast to highlight the newly published 2025 Applied Research Results guide, which offers farmers independent data on pest control and new findings concerning the northern corn rootworm. Finally, meteorologist Mike Tannura provides a global weather outlook, detailing severe drought concerns for the U.S. hard red winter wheat crop, favorable planting conditions in the Northwestern Corn Belt, the onset of the dry season for Brazil's safrinha corn, and beneficial rains expected across Europe and Russia. share.transistor.fm/s/dc145e52

May 06 | Closing Market Report - Ag Markets with Greg Johnson - Asking County Boards to Site Data Centers is an Unfair Thing - Pope Leo's Food Waste Petition and Prayer - Ag Weather with Drew Lerner share.transistor.fm/s/894c8a83

May 05 | Closing Market Report - Ag Markets with @naomiblohm - Data Center Discussion with @Google's Liz Scwhab - Ag Weather with @dayweather share.transistor.fm/s/63bfafd9

May 04 | Closing Market Report - Ag Markets with @ckimmel3 @AgMarket_Net - Pesticide Resistant Alfalfa Weevils - Search Google for "cropCentral" - Commodity Markets with @EdUsset - Ag Weather with Mark Russo @EverstreamAI share.transistor.fm/s/c9db4045

@Grainstate I went looking for those earlier in the year. Frankly, I thought they had only discontinued the audio versions. Losing that granular @usda_nass data from the state level is meaningful to the trade and farmers - particularly during the planting and harvesting period.

Received word this week that Iowa NASS and other states have discontinued their 2026 weekly crop progress reports. No more district planting, soil moisture, or district harvest estimates. We’ve used this district data for the past 25 years for many purposes and it’s quite disappointing that as technology advances, the information flow back to the farmer and grain industry has gone backwards.

May 01 | Closing Market Report - Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, GlobalCommResearch.com - Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, NutrienAgSolutions.com share.transistor.fm/s/30e4f96b