Closing Market Report

The September 30, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report hosted by Todd Gleason covers daily commodity futures and features detailed analysis of agricultural markets and global weather. Analyst Greg Johnson of Total Grain Marketing unpacks the USDA's quarterly grain stocks report, explaining that unexpectedly high corn ending stocks caused prices to drop, while soybean stocks aligned more closely with trade expectations. Johnson also shares early local harvest observations, noting that soybean yields are generally above average but corn yields are trending lower than the previous year. Following the market update, meteorologist Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc. provides a global weather forecast. Lerner highlights how heavy rainfall is delaying harvest progress in the western Corn Belt, particularly in Iowa, but notes favorable weather patterns for crop development and harvest across Argentina and China respectively.

02:51 Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, TGM
14:01 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc.

The September 29, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, provides a comprehensive update on commodity markets, agricultural policy, and weather. Market analyst Naomi Blohm discusses recent grain trading trends, upcoming USDA reports, and the market impact of lagging crop maturity and harvest delays. The program highlights several updates from Washington, D.C., including the rollout of a new digital acreage reporting system by the Farm Service Agency, the ongoing partisan stall of the new farm bill in the Senate, and legislative efforts to secure permanent year-round access to E15 fuel. Additionally, the broadcast features analysis on why increased foreign beef imports have failed to lower consumer prices amid a record-low domestic cattle herd. The episode concludes with meteorologist Don Day forecasting heavy, harvest-delaying rains across the western Corn Belt, followed by a transition to a cooler, drier weather pattern.

00:58 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
07:05 WILLAg News Update
16:00 Lower-Cost Fuel at Stake in E15 Debate
19:01 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather

The September 28, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, covers commodity futures and features analysis from three agricultural experts. University of Illinois agricultural economist Joe Janzen discusses the commodity market's negative reaction to the recent Trump-Xi summit, specifically noting the exclusion of soybeans from reciprocal tariff reductions. Janzen also analyzes a typical 15-cent drop in corn basis during the five-week peak harvest window due to supply pressure. University of Missouri agricultural economist Jason Franken reviews the USDA Hogs and Pigs and cold storage reports, concluding that lowered domestic pork consumption and reduced export projections will likely squeeze hog producers' profitability. Finally, Mark Russo of EverStream Analytics provides a weather update, contrasting harvest-delaying rains in the western Corn Belt with dry conditions in the eastern states, while also noting favorable planting moisture in center-west Brazil.

01:59 Ag Markets with Joe Janzen, University of Illinois
15:48 USDA Hogs and Pigs Report
17:49 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream Analytics

The September 25, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, examines recent developments in commodity markets and global agricultural weather. Market analyst Mike Zuzolo discusses the potential for rain-damaged crops in the US corn and bean belt, the market anticipation surrounding agricultural export details from a recent Trump-Xi meeting, and strategies for producers to manage price risks amidst harvest delays and rising diesel costs. Meteorologist Eric Snodgrass details how heavy rains and gloomy conditions have stalled harvest efforts in the Midwest, noting that moisture from an East Pacific hurricane could cause further regional delays. Additionally, Snodgrass warns that a record-breaking El Nino may disrupt early soybean planting in South America due to inconsistent rainfall.

01:08 Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting
08:56 Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions

The September 24, 2026, edition of the *Closing Market Report*, hosted by Todd Gleason for Illinois Public Media, focuses on harvest progress, fertilizer management, and agricultural weather while soliciting donations for the station's fall fund drive. Matt Bennett of AgMarket.net opens the broadcast discussing highly variable corn harvest yields, tile drainage performance, and market expectations surrounding U.S.–China trade negotiations and Chinese commodity buying commitments. University of Illinois soil fertility specialist John Jones then reviews best practices for fall anhydrous ammonia applications, advising growers to delay applications until 4-inch soil temperatures drop below 50°F and are cooling, while explaining the utility of nitrification inhibitors, the nitrogen efficiency gains of spring applications, and proper use of the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) calculator. Finally, Mike Tannura of Tstorm Weather outlines near-term harvest delays across the western Corn Belt due to heavy rainfall in Iowa, favorable planting moisture conditions across Brazil and Argentina, and the positive historical correlation between an emerging strong El Niño pattern and U.S. hard red winter wheat yields.

00:48 Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, AgMarket.net
06:40 NH3 Applications this Fall and Next Spring
16:07 Donate Now 217-44-9455 or willgive.org
16:56 Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, Tstorm.net

The September 23, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason on Illinois Public Media, covers regional harvest progress, national agricultural policy, and global weather patterns. Greg Johnson of TGM Total Grain Marketing opens the program with a market update, noting that farmers are waiting for corn to dry down naturally in the fields before harvest activity increases. He also discusses how grain markets are currently trading sideways as they await potential news from an upcoming meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi. The broadcast then features an excerpt from a National Association of Farm Broadcasting panel with Ethan Lane, Rob Brenneman, and Geoff Cooper. The panelists discuss their expectations for the Trump-Xi meeting, caution against the unintended consequences of potentially banning U.S. diesel exports, and advocate for free-market principles over government intervention in the agricultural supply chain. Finally, meteorologist Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc. provides an update on global crop weather, highlighting upcoming rainfall that should benefit U.S. winter wheat regions, favorable early planting conditions in Brazil, and an extended period of heat and dryness in Australia driven by El Niño. Throughout the program, Gleason also appeals for listener financial support during the station's fall fund drive; 217-244-9455 or willgive.org to donate.

01:17 Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, TGM Total Grain Marketing
09:34 Trump, Xi, Fuel, Free Trade, and Socialism
20:51 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc

The September 22, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason during a fall fund drive for Illinois Public Media, covers commodity markets, global agribusiness supply chains, and regional weather forecasts. 

Make your gift today in Support of Agriculture @ willgive.org or 217-244-9455

Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing analyzes slight declines in corn and soybean futures, discusses producer storage costs, and assesses potential market impacts from an anticipated meeting between President Trump and President Xi. Gary Schnitkey from the University of Illinois shares insights from his global agribusiness management class, highlighting the differences between protein-driven agricultural demand in developing nations like China and the growing preference for specialized, verified non-commodity foods in developed countries. Finally, meteorologist Don Day provides a weather update for the US Corn Belt, forecasting dry conditions in the eastern states and heavy rainfall moving into the western plains.

00:54 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, TotalFarmMarketing.com
09:00 ACE 435 - Global Agribusiness Management
21:56 Ag Weather with Don Day, DayWeather.com

The September 21, 2026, edition of the *Closing Market Report*, hosted by Todd Gleason, covers agricultural trade, station fundraising, and weather forecasts. Agricultural economist Ben Brown details the potential market implications of an upcoming meeting in Washington, D.C., between Presidents Trump and Xi, analyzing the fulfillment of past US-China trade commitments and the effects of high global energy and fertilizer prices on domestic and international grain production. Gleason follows with an appeal for listener donations during Illinois Public Media's fall fund drive to support the station's agricultural programming. Shifting to policy, Gleason highlights the row crop and livestock sectors' reliance on immigrant labor, shares a personal anecdote regarding citizenship documentation struggles for an international adoptee, and urges Congress to enact meaningful immigration reform. To conclude the program, Mark Russo of EverStream Analytics provides a weather update, noting that enhanced monsoonal moisture is benefiting winter wheat planting in the Plains, highlighting a notably quiet Atlantic hurricane season, and predicting persistent wet conditions that will delay the harvest across Iowa.

00:26 Ag Markets with Ben Brown, University of Missouri
11:50 Make a Pledge Today @ 217-244-9455 or willgive.org
13:01 Immigration
16:16 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream.ai

The September 18, 2026, Closing Market Report, hosted by Todd Gleason, details commodity market movements and agricultural weather forecasts. Mike Zuzolo of GlobalCommResearch.com analyzes the tightening of cash soybean supplies and the negative impact of diesel rail surcharges on local grain bids. He outlines concerns that the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate hike will weaken both domestic and export demand, advising producers to consider hedging strategies amid high market volatility. Meteorologist Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions forecasts an extended period of heavy rainfall across the northern Corn Belt, potentially stalling early harvest operations. Snodgrass contrasts this with record-setting heat in the southern United States and delayed crop planting progress in South America.

01:05 Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, GlobalCommResearch.com
11:30 Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, NutrienAgSolutions.com

The September 17, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report covers commodity trade updates, energy pressures, agricultural policy, farmland economics, and global weather patterns affecting harvest and planting. Matt Bennett of AgMarket.net assesses early East Central Illinois harvest yields, noting relatively solid soybean returns compared to mixed corn results, while advising producers on risk management amid tight global grain stocks, Black Sea logistical bottlenecks, and US-Canada trade tensions. GasBuddy's Patrick DeHaan examines surging diesel prices driven by drone strikes on Russian refining infrastructure, Middle East supply threats, and constrained domestic refining capacity, alongside news of proposed diesel export bans, steady ethanol production, the Senate Farm Bill advancing out of committee, and House passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. Juo-Han Tsay of the University of Illinois evaluates projected 2027 Illinois cash rents, forecasting stable to slightly softening rates due to high input costs offsetting recent commodity price support. Finally, Mike Tannura of Tstorm Weather outlines near-term Corn Belt rainfall distributions, beneficial upcoming moisture across the Southern Plains winter wheat belt, and precipitation trends impacting South American wheat quality and Brazilian soybean planting conditions.

01:19 Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, AgMarket.net
08:32 Diesel Fuel Market with Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy.com
14:06 2027 Illinois Cash Rents with Juo-Han Tsay, University of Illinois
18:13 Ag Weather with Mike Tannura, Tstorm.net