Grain Comments: 07-31-2026

Good morning.

Grain markets are mostly lower across the board to wrap up the week. Beneficial rain has already started to move across the Midwest, which should help crop conditions. Limited headlines this morning out of the Middle East along with Russia and Ukraine have markets in a holding pattern. Corn futures to start on Friday are trading 1-2 cents lower, soybean futures are trading nearly unchanged, and the Chicago wheat market is trading 7-8 cents lower.

The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange reports Argentina’s wheat harvest at 98.4% complete. Crop conditions improved as 83% is rated G/E, up 6% from last week. They also estimate Argentina’s corn harvest has reached 69.8% complete but remains 18 points behind recent years. Yields in the northern region could be impacted as reports of corn leafhopper continue to surface.

According to weekly data from the USDA, barge shipments down the Mississippi River in the week ending June 25th totaled 785k tons, which was up 14% on the week prior. Corn shipments in the week were at 520k tons and were up 4% on the week, while soybean shipments at 230k tons were up 44%. STL barge freight rates were quoted at $25.62/short ton.

The USDA is set to release the June Fats and Oils report and Grain Crushings on Monday, August 3rd at 3pm. Analysts are estimating soybean crush for the month of June at 217.9 million bushels, which would be up almost 11% from a year ago. Corn for ethanol production is expected at 466.4 million bushels, up 4.4% year over year.

The National Grain Trade Centre reports that Sinograin has announced another soybean auction. The sale is set for next Wednesday and will be for 501,000 tons of soybeans that are from the 2022-2025 crop years. These sales are most likely to make room for U.S. soybeans that will be imported in the coming months.

Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman stated on Thursday that he is set on the farm bill to include the legislation needed to have year-round sales of E15 gasoline. He states that they have got some Democrats support and are hopeful to get the legislation out of committee.

Weather forecasts show a storm system will hit most of the Midwest over the weekend with rainfall totals ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 inches. Temperatures should also cool off in the Corn Belt in the next 5-7 days. However, warmth is expected to return for much of the Midwest and across the U.S. during the first part of August.

Have a great day!