Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.com

Grain Markets and Other Stuff Links-

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
TikTok
YouTube

Futures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

Trump's Trade Moves Spark Market Rally 📈🚀
President Trump’s announcement of a 90-day pause on some reciprocal tariffs, alongside a temporary reduction in tariff rates, led to a sharp rally in the markets. Grain futures saw notable gains, with soybeans climbing 20 cents, corn gaining 5 cents, and wheat rising nearly 8 cents per bushel. The stock market followed suit, with the S&P 500 surging 9.5%, marking its largest single-day gain since 2008. WTI crude also saw a 4.7% jump, settling at $62.35 per barrel. The Nasdaq rose 12%, recording its best day in 24 years. 📊💥

Farmer Financial Aid Still Under Consideration 🌱💰
The Trump administration is considering financial aid options for farmers impacted by the ongoing trade war. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that while the goal is to eliminate the need for aid, tariffs are intended to realign the economy for long-term prosperity. The government had previously provided $28 billion in aid to farmers during the trade war with China. With the heightened risk of further escalation, U.S. farm operations are under pressure, with a notable rise in bankruptcies. 🌾📉

China's Soybean Imports Despite Tariffs 🇨🇳🌾
Despite the tariff war, China is expected to import a significant volume of U.S. soybeans. Around 3 million metric tons of soybeans are scheduled for shipment to China by the end of May. However, a portion of these shipments will face increased tariffs—up to 44% for some cargoes. This could lead to concerns about potential cancellations, particularly as cheaper soybeans from Brazil become available. 🌾💰

Executive Order to Boost U.S. Shipbuilding ⚓
President Trump signed an executive order aimed at revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry. The initiative, which includes allocating funding, aims to reduce China’s influence on global shipping. However, the plan to impose a fee of $1 million on Chinese ships docking at U.S. ports has faced strong opposition from the global shipping industry. The American Farm Bureau Federation has warned that this could raise U.S. soybean export costs by 9.5 to 27.5 cents per bushel. 🚢🌍

USDA’s Monthly Crop Reports Out Today 📊🌽
The USDA is set to release its monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports today at 11 a.m. CST. Analysts expect a reduction in the projected corn ending stocks due to higher export projections, while soybean and wheat ending stocks are likely to remain unchanged. The official 2025/2026 balance sheets will be released in May. 🌾📅

U.S. Ethanol Stocks Reach Record Highs ⛽📈
U.S. ethanol stocks rose to 27.03 million barrels last week, marking a 1.6% increase from the previous week and a 3.2% rise from last year. However, weekly ethanol output fell 4%, with margins currently hovering near breakeven levels. 📉🚜

Flash Sale of U.S. Soybeans 🌱📦
USDA reported a flash sale of 198,000 metric tons (7 million bushels) of soybeans to unknown destinations for the 2024/2025 marketing year. Despite ongoing trade tensions, U.S. soybean sales have increased 14% compared to the same period last year. 🌾✈️