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The markets started last week higher, but by Thursday, things were getting hammered—everything from grains to the stock market. The drop in prices is tied to concerns that the Trump tariffs will be ruled illegal, the oilseed workers strike in Argentina being called off, and the lack of Chinese buying following the supposed trade agreement.

We are approaching the 4-week mark of the U.S. government shutdown, and unless an agreement was made between the time of this writing and you reading it, we are likely at the 4-week mark now.

Another week has come and gone, and at least while I’m writing this, the government is STILL shut down, with no real end in sight. We’ve gone a couple of weeks now with no crop progress reports, export reports, or updated supply and demand numbers, so the market is still just feeling kind of “blah.

Just what we need at the beginning of the new crop year – a government shut down. The shutdown affects 750,000 federal workers, including those at the USDA.

Just what we need at the beginning of the new crop year—a government shut down. The shutdown affects 750,000 federal workers, including those at the USDA.

For half a century, Ordway Building Supply has been a cornerstone of southeastern Colorado, offering quality products, expert kitchen design, and the kind of personal service that only a family-owned business can provide. This October, owner Quentin Reeves and the whole OBS staff invites the community and longtime customers to celebrate their 50th anniversary with a special two-day Customer Appreciation Event.

From the start last week, the weaker tone in the markets continued, fueled by announcements over the weekend that Argentina would have zero export taxes until October 31st, or until exports reached $7 billion, whichever came first. The $7 billion milestone came much faster, with that amount already registered by Thursday morning.

Just when you think there are no extra corn acres laying around, the USDA manages to find some! The September 12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report brought a couple of surprises, the biggest being an additional 1.47 million acres of corn. This brings the estimate for the 2025 planted acres up to a whopping 98.

Timing is everything, and sometimes it can be quite tricky trying to provide you with the most recent market insights when there is a lag between me writing and you reading. Just like now – I am writing this on the eve of the September USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, which will already have been released by the time you read this.

Last month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released detailed data on over 14 million criminal offenses for 2024 reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program by participating law enforcement agencies.

As farmers are gearing up for harvest across the country, the trade has been keeping an eye on the weather, crop conditions, exports, and trade talks. One of the main focus points for a while now has been talks between the US and China, and any signs of progress on agricultural tariffs.

What a wild time of year this is! A lot of eyes were on the Pro-Farmer tour last week as the group scouted fields across the corn belt. From the sounds of it, Iowa’s crop has big potential to be the top state for corn and bean production, but disease pressure may be gaining momentum.

Without a doubt, the biggest bombshell dropped in the grain markets last week was the USDA’s August World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. The August report is typically a pretty big one, and the USDA kind of took BIG to a whole different level when it comes to the U.

Unless you have children currently or recently enrolled in a public high school, you may not be aware that Colorado both allows and actively encourages high school students to register to vote before they turn eighteen.

The soy complex was slightly higher late last week, after soybeans hit a 4-month low on Wednesday due to trade concerns. There is still no in person meeting scheduled between the US and China, and there are increasing worries that President Trump could put an additional tariff on China for buying Russian oil, just as Trump did to India.

For over seven decades, SEMCO Pump Hoist has stood as a proud example of family legacy, entrepreneurial spirit, and community impact in Lamar, Colorado. The company’s roots trace back to 1948, when John Sutphin Sr.