First Thing Today Audio | September 29, 2021
Corn futures held within yesterday’s trading range overnight and the market is 3 to 4 cents higher as the overnight session winds down. Soybean futures saw two-sided action overnight, but the market is currently trading high-range and up 1 to 3 cents. Winter wheat futures are 3 to 7 cents higher, while spring wheat futures are up 1 to 3 cents. Crude oil futures are lower after yesterday’s surge to the upside. The U.S. dollar index has climbed to its highest level since November 2020.
Funding for the government runs out Thursday at midnight ET. There is bipartisan support for a partial stopgap approach. If the Senate clears the measure today, the House could take it up either today or sometime Thursday to avoid a partial government shutdown.
The cooperative CHS Inc. has resumed operations at its Myrtle Grove, Louisiana grain export terminal, the farmer-owned company announced yesterday. This comes after a month-long closure due to damage from Hurricane Ida.
Tropical Cyclone Gulab has damaged India’s summer crops like soybeans, cotton, pulses and vegetables just before harvest. Cotton is in its open-boll stage, leaving it vulnerable to quality decline and some production loss. Another tropical disturbance could impact southern India this weekend, reports World Weather.
So far this marketing year, the European Union has exported 6.95 MMT of soft wheat, a 36.5% leap from last year at this time, according to data from the European Commission. Its barley exports are also running a bit ahead of year-ago.
After months of pressure and an eye-opening congressional primary election, the Argentine government finally lifted its cap on beef exports that had limited shipments to 50% of normal volumes. The country plans to restart exports on Monday.
Choice boxed beef values fell $1.14 and Select edged 3 cents lower, with movement improving yesterday. The pace of the decline has slowed in recent days, giving the market some hope a low may lie in the near future. Cash market prospects are likely limited until the product market improves.
There was some followthrough buying in lean hogs after Monday’s surge to the upside. Last Friday’s Quarterly Hogs & Pigs Report painted a much more bullish supply picture this year and into 2022, and the markets are responding. Meanwhile, the pork cutout value slumped.
