The Final Bell

Mixed to lower grains. USDA report out tomorrow. Ethanol issues continue with POET announcing plant closures, what do current ethanol numbers mean? Cold temperatures next week…does this make the wheat market nervous? South American weather & crop production numbers. Beef sector has been going crazy. Restaurant numbers are out…not pretty

Corn is in the driver’s seat for grains today. S&D report due out on Thursday & markets closed on Friday. WOW…kind of “Normal” trade feel. Poor ethanol margins remain. POET to idle 4 plants. OPEC & Russia…how does that effect the U.S.? Talk about a “Turn Around Tuesday” with limit up on the livestock.

Report week, OPEC week, some green on the screen in beans & wheat, lower corn. Nearby cattle were limit down. How messy is the chart? Energy market will continue to be in the driver’s seat. Corn export inspections saw some strong numbers. How is COVID effecting grain movement in South America & here in the U.S.? Packer plants & COVID? Missing link might be the supply chain now vs. 20 years ago. When will we see cash cattle pick up?

Will cash stay where it is? The difference between the board and cash…not seeing bids from buyers. How will dairy in buyouts going to affect the market? How big will these livestock get waiting to be processed. Overall economy…unemployment numbers keep growing how does beef demand look going forward? How will premium cuts suffer? Do we have to go back to ’08 to look the struggles? Limit down struggles continue in the hog market as well. How does that filter into the grain market? Ethanol & Carbon Dioxide. May WASDE report and old crop balance sheets are talked about. What about new crop balance sheets?

How would you describe corn and soybean markets overall? What did you think of the prospective planting report? Did the Quarterly Stocks report surprise you at all? Oil rallied today because of Trump talking about the possibility of global oil production being reduced. How would you describe the current situation with Oil? What are the major problems that the ethanol industry is having right now? Are there some possible positive factors you are watching right now?

Corn stalk numbers, a new production estimate from Brazil, which brings a drop in soybean estimates. Weather in SA. Ethanol concerns here in the U.S. & S.A. Limit down trade in the cattle & the hogs again today. Aggressive buying of meat has been accomplished & we are seeing a drop in demand.

Planting intentions report, where did the acres go, stocks, ethanol. Is there questioning of the USDA numbers? From end of month, end of quarter and moving into a new month how prices will fair be going into April. Human abilities and the futures. Long calls for the cattle market. Crazy livestock trade, COVID-19 & JBS. Volatility is there for the livestock stronger then we have seen in a long time.

DDgs & the Albion plant closing, ethanol, how long will all this last, will the corn market react.  A lot of stuff we haven’t had to deal with before.  Planting attentions report out tomorrow.  Has it been overlooked?  Self-isolation looked forward to for spring planting.  Weekly export numbers.  Beans have had some positive news to start out the week.  South American Ports & COVID-19.  Dollar movement how will that effect the trade.  Cattle didn’t trade limit down on the day-so that’s a positive.  Hogs unfortunately went lower on expanded limits.

What is going on in the cattle market & how do we survive it? Friday finished another limit down day. How do we recover? Recap of the cash markets this week. What is the packers story from their side? Hogs also see a limit down trade. Talk of China recover from COVID-19 they will need the proteins. Drop in the corn market. Energy is pulling the market lower.

Market chatter is still about COVID-19, Wheat bounced backwards today, a breather was expected. Ethanol markets does not feel good. Are we going to see a dump in corn? Will quarterly stocks or planting intentions help the market? Will next week’s reports set the tone? Cattle have been giving back a bit.