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0:00 Happy Easter
0:35 US/Japan Talks
2:04 Corn Bounce
3:31 Joe is a Cry Baby
6:11 US Dollar Declines
9:29 Ethanol Production
10:25 Montana Renewables
11:42 Gold Surges

🌐 Trade Discussions with Japan: The Trump administration made significant progress in trade talks with Japan. President Trump described the discussions as making "big progress," with topics extending beyond trade to defense cost-sharing. The 90-day tariff pause continues, but Japan faces a 24% tariff if a deal isn't reached.

🌽 Corn Futures Climb: Corn futures saw an increase amid a weaker dollar and weather concerns. The May25 contract gained 3 cents to settle near $4.84 per bushel, supported by recent rain and flooding delays in the Corn Belt. Further rain this weekend is expected to hinder planting progress.

💵 US Dollar Falls to Six-Month Low: The U.S. dollar hit a six-month low, with investors seeking safer assets due to uncertainty surrounding tariffs and trade negotiations. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged the slowing economy, signaling a wait-and-see approach for the Fed.

🌱 Ethanol Stocks Remain High: U.S. ethanol stocks were near historical highs, with a slight weekly decline. However, production margins remain near breakeven levels, with output down by 1% from last week but up 3% from the same time last year.

🔋 Montana Renewables Pushes for Higher Biomass Diesel Quotas: Montana Renewables' CEO, Bruce Fleming, is advocating for a substantial increase in biomass-based diesel quotas to support the industry, targeting 7.3 billion gallons, more than double the current quota.

💰 Gold Hits New High: Gold surged by 3.2% on Wednesday, reaching over $3,300 per ounce, driven by the weak dollar and investor fears of economic uncertainty. Experts predict gold could reach $4,000 per ounce by mid-2026 due to trade tensions and a looming global recession.