Harvest Delays and Trade Tensions Fuel Market Volatility

Producers are seeing stronger corn and soybean prices than they have in several years, but Austin Schroeder of Brugler Marketing and Ross Baldwin of John Stewart & Associates warn that opportunity comes with significant risk as harvest approaches.

Austin Schroeder said the market recently reached three-year highs, giving producers a better opportunity to price grain. For those with limited storage or bushels that must move at harvest, he said cash sales or hedges deserve consideration as daily price swings remain wide.

Ross Baldwin agreed that producers should use current values to manage their bottom line. He noted that production costs have climbed with inflation, but said corn near $5.50 offered levels that could support sales.

The market is also awaiting more detail from trade discussions between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. An announcement from U.S. Trade Representative Greer was expected Monday, though the content remained uncertain. Traders would be looking for firm numbers, specific commodities or other details connected to prospective Chinese purchases.