Closing Market Report

This episode of the Closing Market Report features discussions on agricultural commodity trends, fall specialty crops, and global weather impacts. Agricultural economist Ed Usset analyzes the recent downturn in crop and crude oil prices, noting that while soybeans are supported by strong crush demand, corn and wheat are struggling to find positive recovery signals. The broadcast then highlights two fall stories: the 75th anniversary of the USDA APHIS international pre-clearance program for imports like Dutch tulip bulbs, and a profile of Illinois's dominance in the processing pumpkin industry. Finally, Mark Russo from EverStream Analytics provides an agricultural weather outlook, covering harvest-slowing rains in the American Midwest, persistent dry conditions threatening Indonesian palm oil, and early-season planting weather across South America.

02:10 Commodity Markets Discussion with Ed Usset
11:43 Tulips and Pumpkins, a story for the fall
16:04 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream Analytics

The October 30, 2026, broadcast of the *Closing Market Report* features host Todd Gleason discussing agricultural market dynamics and global weather impacts with industry experts. Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting analyzes how geopolitical tensions in the Black Sea and Middle East, combined with evolving U.S. biofuels policies, are influencing wheat, crude oil, corn, and soybean prices. Meteorologist Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions then details the effects of an early polar vortex split on Midwest fall weather, noting a brief period of mild temperatures before a cold front, and evaluates delayed planting conditions and dry weather risks in Brazil's agricultural regions.

01:34 Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting
12:21 Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions

The October 29, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, begins with a daily commodity market recap before transitioning into a special audio tour of the University of Illinois' Morrow Plots. Led by crop scientist Andrew Margenot, the tour celebrates the 150th anniversary of the world's oldest continuous crop rotation experiment, highlighting how a century and a half of specific planting practices and fertility treatments have impacted crop yields and depleted native prairie soil organic matter. The program concludes with an agricultural weather forecast from Mike Tannura of Tstorm Weather, who details an upcoming rain system expected to slow the harvest in the U.S. Corn Belt, varying moisture conditions for domestic winter wheat, and the ongoing wet and unusually cool weather patterns currently affecting crops in Brazil and Argentina.

02:04 Audio Tour of the Morrow Plots Crop Rotation Experiment
18:44 Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, Tstorm Weather 

The October 28, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report provides updates on commodity markets, alternative bioenergy crops, and global agricultural weather. Greg Johnson analyzes recent corn and soybean price declines driven by fund liquidation, while Andy VanLoocke details the agronomic behavior, nitrogen storage cycles, and commercial bioenergy applications of Miscanthus. Meteorologist Drew Lerner concludes with weather forecasts impacting near-term harvest progress in the U.S. Corn Belt and early-season planting conditions across South America.

00:31 Ag Markets with Greg Johnon, TGM Total Grain Marketing
06:23 Summit Explores Miscanthus Agronomy and Bioenergy Use
16:02 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc.

This episode of the *Closing Market Report*, hosted by Todd Gleason, covers agricultural markets, emerging crops, and global weather forecasts. Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing analyzes the commodity markets, noting the bearish impact of the Brazilian election on soybeans, oversold conditions in corn and wheat pointing toward a potential harvest low, and a friendly Cattle on Feed report indicating a stagnant herd size. Professor Emily Heaton from the University of Illinois discusses the first annual International Miscanthus Summit, highlighting miscanthus as a highly productive perennial grass that yields building materials, compostable packaging, and fuels while improving soil and water quality on underperforming farmland. Finally, Don Day of Day Weather provides an agricultural weather update, forecasting an end to the highly favorable Corn Belt harvest weather with a significant rain system approaching next week, alongside returning moisture for South American growing regions.

01:03 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
09:40 The 1st Annual International Miscanthus Summit
19:54 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather

In this October 26, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report, agricultural economist Joe Janzen analyzes current commodity trends, highlighting strong soybean exports, lagging corn sales, and the market headwinds caused by Brazil's recent elections. The program also details a recent USDA data processing error that temporarily skewed September corn yield estimates for Nebraska and Kansas. Finally, Everstream Analytics' Mark Russo provides a global agricultural weather update, covering harvest progress in the U.S. Corn Belt, winter wheat planting in the Plains, and soybean sowing conditions across South America.

00:39 Commodity Markets Discussion with Joe Janzen, University of Illinois
17:42 USDA Revises the September Crop Production Report
19:49 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream Analytics

In the October 23, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report, host Todd Gleason reviews daily market settlements and interviews Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting regarding current commodity dynamics. Zuzolo highlights a divergence between crude oil and wheat prices driven by conflicting Black Sea shipping news, noting that anticipated Russian state grain interventions could eventually support domestic wheat and corn markets. Gleason then details the northward progression of Neocosmospora stem rot, a fungal disease resembling red crown rot, into Illinois and Missouri soybean fields. Finally, Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions provides the agricultural weather forecast, observing that favorable Midwestern harvest windows should remain open into early November before an active subtropical jet introduces heavier precipitation. Snodgrass also warns that persistent El Niño conditions could threaten Brazilian soybean yields with rapid flash droughts in December and January.

03:06 Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting
09:05 A Fungal Disease of Soybeans is Moving Northward
10:33 Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions

This edition of the Closing Market Report begins with commodity market analysis by Matt Bennett, who discusses recent soybean sales and variable corn yield reports impacting prices. The program then transitions to an agricultural news update covering a potential USDA harvest fuel relief program and ongoing Senate negotiations to pass a farm bill before the year ends. A feature segment by Hope Kirwan explores Sargento's development of a new natural American cheese designed to replicate the melt of processed cheese without using artificial emulsifiers. Finally, Mike Tannura provides a comprehensive agricultural weather forecast detailing wet conditions for hard red winter wheat, dry harvest weather in the eastern Corn Belt, and heavy rains across Brazil and Argentina driven by a strong El Niño.

01:39 Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, AgMarket
07:23 WILLAg News Update
10:40 A New American Slice for your Toasted Cheese
15:34 Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, Tstorm Weather

The October 21, 2026, Closing Market Report covers late-stage corn and soybean harvest progress with Greg Johnson, noting strong soybean yields but disappointing corn returns due to lower prices and high input costs. Soil scientist Sam Indorante discusses the significance of resampling Illinois' oldest soil test site from 1861 to measure agricultural impacts over time. Finally, Drew Lerner provides a global weather outlook, highlighting beneficial moisture moving into dry regions of the US Corn Belt, Western Europe, and Australia.

01:06 Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, Total Grain Marketing
10:17 Resampling 1861 Prairie Site to Measure Soil Change
18:27 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc.

The October 20, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report covers commodity market trends, the value of soil science, and regional agricultural weather. Brian Beckler of Total Farm Marketing analyzes recent fund liquidation and harvest pressure affecting corn and soybean prices, noting that long-term bullish factors like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and strong demand could eventually drive a market recovery. Next, soil scientist Kevin McSweeney discusses his career transition from studying land reclamation in Illinois strip mines to evaluating how agricultural practices alter soil profiles over time, emphasizing the importance of detailed soil surveys. Finally, Don Day of Day Weather provides a forecast detailing dry, warm conditions favorable for harvesting across the Corn Belt, with most near-term precipitation limited to the western United States.

01:30 Ag Markets with Brian Beckler, Total Farm Marketing
08:44 A Soil Science Journey
21:30 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather