Your Pro Farmer newsletter (Sept. 12, 2026) is now available

Friday offered the main event in a holiday-shortened week with the release of USDA’s September reports. USDA trimmed its average corn yield estimate and nudged its soybean yield estimate higher, affirming the direction of travel for both crops discovered by last month’s Pro Farmer Crop Tour. The report put a damper on a soybean rally that had seen November hit contract highs, boosted by China demand and surging crude-oil and fuel prices. Wheat futures saw some pressure this week despite continued turmoil in the Black Sea, while USDA raised its global production estimate. Live cattle futures rallied, building hopes for a near-term bottom, buoyed by tight supplies and low slaughter. Hog futures saw sideways trade on weak cash and product fundamentals. We cover all of this and more in this week’s newsletter.