Closing Market Report

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

This edition of the Closing Market Report covers commodity market movements, supply and demand estimates, and agricultural weather forecasts. Agricultural economist Ben Brown of the University of Missouri reviews disappointing September soybean crush numbers from NOPA, muted Chinese export demand following recent bilateral talks, and the impact of heavy managed money fund liquidation across corn, soybeans, and wheat. Former USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer analyzes whether last year's record corn crop was overstated, examining how statistical discrepancies in the feed and residual category obscure actual domestic disappearance, alongside emerging shifts in consumer meat demand driven by GLP-1 medications. Finally, Mark Russo of Everstream Analytics details a warm, dry forecast across the Corn Belt that will accelerate harvest progress while keeping soil temperatures above the 50-degree threshold required for fall anhydrous ammonia applications, alongside favorable planting conditions in South America.

00:45 Commodity Markets Discussion with Ben Brown, University of Missouri
12:49 Crop Size and Feed Usage, a Question or Two
20:44 Ag Weather with Mark Russo

The October 16th edition of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides an overview of agricultural markets, shifting consumer demands, and weather forecasts. Market analyst Mike Zuzolo discusses recent trends in the commodity markets, highlighting the influence of inflation, the value of the dollar, and new European export routes on crop prices. The program also features insights from CoBank's Brian Earnest, who explains how the increasing use of GLP1 medications is altering meat consumption, driving demand for protein-dense, leaner beef cuts and poultry. Finally, Eric Snodgrass offers an agricultural weather update, detailing a recent cold front across the Corn Belt, the upcoming harvest window, and the anticipated effects of a strong El Niño winter on both North and South American agriculture.

01:15 Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting
07:53 GLP1s and Demand for Animal Proteins
10:59 Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions

The October 15, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report opens with commodity market updates, noting lower closes for corn, soybeans, and wheat. Matt Bennett of AgMarket discusses completing harvest in central Illinois, rapid crop dry-down, local yield results, and current technical price pressures facing both corn and soybean futures. Jim McCormick highlights AgMarket's growth, including its rebrand and transition to becoming a guaranteed introducing broker clearing through StoneX, alongside its brokerage, consulting, and crop and livestock insurance services. A report from Stephanie Hoff and CoBank analyst Billy Roberts details how soaring cocoa prices, reduced sugar beet acreage, and pest pressures are pushing candy makers toward ingredient reformulation and smaller packages to combat consumer sticker shock. Finally, Mike Tannura of Tstorm Weather delivers an agricultural weather outlook, analyzing rain-delayed winter wheat planting in the Southern Plains, favorable harvest windows across the Corn Belt, and the broader impacts of a strong El Niño pattern on soil moisture and crops across Brazil and Argentina.

01:21 Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, AgMarket
06:42 AgMarket Grows, Rebrands, and has a new Clearing Firm
12:12 Candy Makers Grapple with Cocoa, Sugar Headwinds
16:32 Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, Tstorm Weather

Watch the YouTube version of this program at the following link...

https://youtu.be/oYslOpCJWD0?si=W-ZxwAY4kmAXhPNB

Join our panel of agronomic and economic experts, alongside a real-world practitioner, for an in-depth discussion on fall and spring fertilizer management. As farmers face fluctuating input costs and changing weather patterns, making the right nutrient management decisions is more critical than ever.

In this video, the panel breaks down the latest on-farm research and economic data to help you optimize your fertilizer strategy. We cover the logistics of fall anhydrous applications, the importance of the 50-degree soil temperature rule, and how to maximize your Return on Investment (ROI) using Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) rates. The discussion also dives into practical strategies for managing Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) during times of high fertilizer prices, and wraps up with best practices for winter wheat fertility.