Market Talk

The grain markets shot higher to start the week as the White House released news on Sunday of reported agricultural purchase commitments made by China during last week's summit between Trump and Xi. Does this news give the grain markets enough juice to work back through key levels of resistance in the trade? How does the weather conversation play into things? John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing joins us to discuss the grains and livestock markets on today's show. Find more online at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com.

As the grain markets reacted higher on Monday to reported news of China agricultural purchase commitments after the Trump/Xi summit, the livestock markets trade mixed to lower to start the week. Mike Minor and Luke Wells from Professional Ag Marketing join us to discuss the trade action in cattle, hogs and the grain markets. More at https://www.professionalagmarketing.com.

We saw a large outbreak of severe weather over the weekend in parts of the Plains and Western Corn Belt with numerous reports of large hail, damaging winds, heavy rains and tornadoes across parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri with more on the way to start the week. Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions joins us to discuss in our Weekly Weather Update for the week of May 18th, 2026. More at https://www.ag-wx.com.

Grain markets were surging through midday on the reported China agricultural purchase commitments announced on Sunday by the White House. We discuss that, the outside markets and the livestock trade with Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX, in our Midday Commentary.

As we head into the weekend, we sit down to talk commodity and livestock markets with Chad Hart, Professor and Economist at Iowa State University. We discuss the markets chasing headlines, the weather impacts, the law of supply and demand, ethanol/E15 legislation, US/China talks and much more.

Plus it was a busy week in the cattle markets with plenty of news and record cash trade. Joe Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek joins us for livestock and grain market analysis to close out the week. Find more at https://www.kkvtrading.com.

It appears we have more follow-through selling in the grain trade on Friday while cattle futures are pushing a bit higher. Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX, joins us to discuss in our Friday Market Talk Midday Commentary.

Soybeans fell into some hard profit taking on Thursday as traders apparently caught wind of some small nuggets of information from the Trump/Xi meeting ongoing in China. That pulled corn and wheat lower while cattle futures closed lower as news came out regarding new higher limits starting on June 1st. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing joins us for analysis and perspective on today's show. More at https://www.totalfarmmarketing.com.

The cattle market is entering uncharted territory, with cash trade surging $7 higher in the North and $3 to $5 higher in the South, with some northern sales reported as high as $265. On this week's Cattle Chatter, Brad Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek breaks down the latest price movement and discusses the newly announced expanded trading limits. Effective June 1, Live Cattle limits will move to $8.50, while Feeder Cattle limits increase to $10.75. Markets are also keeping a close eye on trade developments with China, including questions surrounding why nearly 400 packing licenses were approved and then later pulled back. At the same time, worsening drought conditions are prompting more cattle to move to market, though producers appear committed to holding onto their cow herds—signaling continued confidence in long-term fundamentals.

Soybeans are down hard, pulling wheat and corn lower as well, amid some of the chatter coming from the US/China meeting that is ongoing. Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX, joins us to share some context on the market moves we are seeing through midday Thursday.

We saw a quieter grain trade on Wednesday while cattle surged and we got new energy and inflation data released as well. Mike Zuzolo with Global Commodity Analytics joins us to share technical analysis of things he is watching in the grain, livestock and outside markets at midweek. Find more online at https://www.globalcommresearch.com.

And as farmers continue to work through spring planting 2026, the rising cost of fuel, fertilizer and inputs continues to further squeeze farm budgets. Dr. Michael Deliberto, Economist, Associate Professor and Louisiana Farm Bureau Endowed Professor in Agricultural Policy at LSU joins us to highlight recent work he has done looking at crop budgets for producers in Louisiana and how it can broadly reflect issues across the country.

Grain markets are mixed and quieter on Wednesday while we examine new Producer Price Index data and await any news from the Trump/Xi meeting in China. Arlan Suderman with StoneX joins us for analysis of the grain, livestock and outside markets at midweek.

***Always remember the risk of trading futures and options can be substantial.

Winter wheat futures soared on Tuesday after USDA seemingly indicated the well reported issues with this year's crop in the U.S. Plains. We saw 35-45 cent moves higher across the wheat complex while soybeans, bean oil, bean meal and corn also had a positive day. Matt Bennett with AgMarket.net joins us for analysis and reaction to the May WASDE report and some thoughts on the situation with beef imports and the Trump administration. Find more online at https://www.agmarket.net.

On Tuesday, USDA released the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates for the month of May and it featured a few suprises and changes of note to the U.S. and World balance sheets. Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX joins us for a recap and report day analysis.