Corn Futures Rise Amid Mixed Yield Prospects in US Midwest
Chicago corn futures rose on Thursday due to mixed yield prospects across the US Midwest. According to industry field tour reports, corn yield potential and soybean pod counts in western Iowa are down from last year but remain near or above three-year averages.
The most-active corn contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) gained 0.4% to $5.00 a bushel by 0221 GMT. Soybeans lost 0.2% to $12.35 a bushel and wheat fell 0.1% to $6.96-3/4 a bushel.
Pro Farmer scouts reported that corn yield potential in Illinois, the No. 2 US corn state, is projected at 184.19 bushels per acre, below the 2025 crop tour average of 199.57 bpa and the three-year tour average of 199.15. In Nebraska, crops on some fields lacking irrigation appeared stunted and thin.
Grain markets are also monitoring disruptions to Black Sea exports after continued Russian and Ukrainian attacks on shipping. Ukraine's wheat exports could decline to between 5 million and 10 million metric tons in the 2026/27 July-to-June season if its Black Sea ports remain blocked by Russian attacks, ASAP Agri consultancy said.