The Pro Farmer Crop Tour is one of the most anticipated events of the year for farmers and the grain trade. Now in its 33rd year, the tour provides boots-on-the-ground insights into yield potential across the Corn Belt.

In this episode of Grain IQ, host Chad Moyer sits down with Chip Flory, leader of the western leg of the tour, to dig into what scouts are seeing in Nebraska and beyond. Flory explains how the tour’s routes have evolved, why Nebraska’s irrigated acres play such a unique role in yield estimates, and what makes the 2025 crop different from past years.

From disease pressure like southern rust and gray leaf spot, to the difference between irrigated and dryland yields, to the stories (and even meals) from the road — this episode gives you an inside look at how the Pro Farmer Crop Tour gathers data and why it matters to your marketing decisions.

Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

Harvest is here, and so are the tough grain marketing decisions. Prices are below break-even. Biofuel policy is uncertain. Global competition and interest rates add even more pressure.

In this episode of Grain IQ, host Chad Moyer talks with Bree Baatz, grain and oilseed analyst at Terrain, about what farmers must know right now to make smart marketing calls.

Bree shares insight on:

- Corn vs. soybeans: which to store this harvest

- Nebraska’s role in the crush and biofuel story

- Global signals from South America and China

- How basis and demand could shape marketing opportunities

Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

Dive into a grain market outlook for 2025 with industry experts Darin Newsom of Barchart and Alan Brugler of Brugler Marketing and Management.

Recorded live at the 2024 Nebraska Ag Expo, this Grain IQ episode captures key insights from their panel discussion, Grain Markets – Now and Into 2025.

Hosted by Rural Radio Network’s Chad Moyer and supported by the Nebraska Soybean Board, this conversation tackles current market trends, strategies to navigate challenges, and practical advice for staying profitable.

Don’t miss the Q&A segment where audience questions drive actionable takeaways for farmers and agribusiness professionals.

Consistent randomness and investigative reporting are two themes that come from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour every August.

The tour has become an industry event that analysts, agronomists, farmers and more closely watch for real-time insights on crop conditions in seven states: Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

But what's the significance of the data to the markets? Is it accurate? And how should the data be used in grain marketing decisions?

Chip Flory with Pro Farmer leads the Western Leg of the tour each year. He said their team of scouts has the same route during the same week with the same calculation methods to gather realistic data about the crop year after year.

In addition to consistent randomness, Flory said the tour serves as an investigative report to level the playing field for farmers with access to data.

“There have been years when the crop tour has deviated significantly from what USDA has showed us,” he said.

Flory joins us to elaborate on the tour and its significance to grain marketing.

Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

On-farm grain storage has drastically changed how producers harvest and market their grain.

What are the economic benefits of keeping grain in good condition? Are there considerable differences in storage practices?

In part one of a two-part discussion, Dr. Ken Hellevang, a professor and extension engineer in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at North Dakota State University, answers these questions.

Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

On-farm grain storage gives farmers another option at harvest, but it also adds a few more factors to consider in a risk management plan.

For farmers considering expanding their on-farm storage capacity, what specifically should they be factoring into that decision?

What technological advancements in grain storage are making an economic impact? What do farmers need to assess for their grain marketing plan?

Dr. Ken Hellevang, a professor and extension engineer in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at North Dakota State University, joins us to answer these questions in part two of this conversation.

Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

Due to the growing demand for soybean oil, soybean crush capacity is rapidly expanding across Nebraska to increase soy oil output.

Will this lead to increased soybean prices? How do you factor these elements into your risk management plan?

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in demand for soybean oil for use in renewable fuels.

Here's some quick math to consider:

One bushel of soybeans weighs 60 pounds.

Of that, 12 pounds (20%) is soybean oil, which accounts for 37% of the soybean’s value.

The remaining 47 pounds or so (80%) is soy meal, making up 63% of the soybean’s value.

Jacquie Holland, an economist with the American Soybean Association, joins us on Grain IQ to explain how crush expansions in the Midwest will impact your grain marketing plan.

Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

The U.S. Dollar. The Brazilian Deal. The Chinese Yuan.

The U.S. Dollar is often referred to in commodity trading, but why? What impact does it have on major commodities?

About 65% - 75% of all price settlements and merchandise trade invoices have been settled in U.S. dollars, according to Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics.

Plus, farmers get caught up in day-to-day operations, but it’s often headlines off the farm, and even off the continent, that impact your risk management plan.

Today on Grain IQ, Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics breaks down currency and why it matters.

Every Friday after the markets close, the Commitment of Traders report is released by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

You’ve likely heard analysts talk about the report, but what does it really mean for your farm? Do the numbers matter if the data is three days delayed?

John Payne with Advanced Trading has been in grain marketing for nearly 20 years. He joins us today on Grain IQ to share how you can use the data to make decisions.

If you haven’t listened to part one, we invite you to start there. Payne explains “the funds,” which lays the groundwork for this conversation.

Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

The funds are net short. The funds are net long. The funds are... huh?

Who are “the funds” anyway, and how do they influence my grain marketing plan? John Payne with Advanced Trading has been in grain marketing for nearly 20 years and he joins us on Grain IQ to answer those questions.

This is Part One of a two-part series. Be sure to catch Part Two where Payne breaks down the weekly Commitment of Traders report and how farmers can use that information in their grain marketing plans.

Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.