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One of the smartest guys in the industry always reminded me that once the NCAA brackets came out, the industry went quiet. That couldn't be more true today. The market has been quiet for over two weeks. Futures were off $175 last week, and even print was down. Putting basketball to the side, this usually is a slow period as construction ramps up. Add to the many storm clouds overhead, and you get an inactive market. That said, the dynamics are still very strong. Let's look at some pros and cons of the market today. Pros: New business keeps piling ...

Corn has continued to trade in the same range since early March as the markets wait for next week’s acreage report from the USDA. This is a major market-moving report historically, so expect volatility either way. IHS Markit’s current estimates were for 91.42 million acres of corn, while Pro Farmer came out with 91.9 million. While these numbers seem realistic and may ultimately be right, I would be surprised if the USDA came out with anything lower than 92 million. The big question is, will higher inputs cause fewer acres even though there are higher prices, or will it be ...

According to estimates compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), by 2050, farmers worldwide will need to produce 60 percent more food to feed the growing population, which is expected to hit roughly 10 million. We talk more about that in our What It Takes To Feed the World Infographic, but to grow more food, it's essential to look into where food production begins, and that starts with seeds and chemicals. The seed and chemicals that create the crops come from various companies and countries (including Russia). Input prices have been the talk of late, with prices, inflation, and supply ...

RCM Ag Services is putting a unique spin on National Agriculture Day by going international. That's right, we're jumping right into international waters with Maria Dorsett from USDA's Foreign Agriculture Services for an interesting discussion about linking U.S. agriculture to the rest of the world. Each year, March 22 represents a special day to increase public awareness of the U.S.'s agricultural role in society, so why not take it one step further by bringing in a global component? As the world population soars, there's an even greater demand for producing food, fiber, and renewable resources. That's why we're taking a ...

Corn was pretty flat on the week, but it did not lack volatility. The war in Ukraine and the constant news make for wild swings on unconfirmed reports such as peace talks and Russian demands. The volatility has caused many headaches, but the volume has decreased, showing that many traders are watching from the sideline and not trading volatile rumors that may or may not be true. The next month of weather will be important as some areas of the US are very dry and will need moisture heading into the spring. Corn export sales were above expectations this week, ...