USDA Reports

WILLAg Radio Week 26 in Review

  • June 27, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending June 26, 2026. WILLAg.org is a partnership of Illinois Public Media and University of Illinois Extension. Its mission is to distribute regionally, nationally, and internationally information and analysis of commodity markets and agricultural weather.
Agricultural Markets Synthesis
The agricultural commodity markets throughout the week of June 22, 2026, experienced a distinct seasonal downtime, driven heavily by investment funds liquidating long positions of over three billion bushels across corn,…

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WILLAg Radio Week 25 in Review

  • June 20, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending June 19, 2026. WILLAg.org is a partnership of Illinois Public Media and University of Illinois Extension. Its mission is to distribute regionally, nationally, and internationally information and analysis of commodity markets and agricultural weather.
Agricultural Markets Synthesis
The weekly market data shows a period of technical stabilization and cautious retracement across major agricultural commodities following a prolonged multi-week downturn. Analysts Susan Stroud,…

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WILLAg Radio Week 23 in Review

  • June 6, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending June 05, 2026. WILLAg.org is a partnership of Illinois Public Media and University of Illinois Extension. Its mission is to distribute regionally, nationally, and internationally information and analysis of commodity markets and agricultural weather.
Agricultural Markets Synthesis
The agricultural grain markets experienced a severe downturn, characterized by corn and soybeans breaking through critical moving averages due to persistent fund liquidations,…

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WILLAg Business Week Review for May 8, 2026

  • May 10, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org radio broadcast content from the work week ending May 8, 2026.
Agricultural Markets Weekly Synthesis
Throughout the week, agricultural markets experienced significant volatility driven by fluctuating crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and the anticipation of upcoming governmental reports and international summits. Early in the week, Curt Kimmel reported that commodity funds aggressively bought contracts, pushing soybeans higher due to a risk premium returning to crude oil amidst Middle East tensions.…

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Apr 24 | WILLAg Business Week Review

  • April 24, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending April 24, 2026.
Geopolitical Tensions and High Input Costs Dictate Choppy Grain Markets
The agricultural commodity markets experienced sideways, choppy trading heavily dictated by Middle East geopolitical tensions. Market analysts Mike Zuzolo, Matt Bennett, Curt Kimmel, Naomi Blohm, and Greg Johnson noted that fluctuating war premiums drove crude oil prices higher, which subsequently pulled biofuels and soybean oil to new highs while providing underlying support to the broader grain complex.…

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Apr 17 | WILLAg Business Week Edition

  • April 17, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

WILLAg.org Radio Programming for the work week ending April 17, 2026
Geopolitical Shocks and the Nitrogen Price Squeeze
Agricultural markets this week experienced significant volatility driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, high input costs, and shifting weather patterns. A primary concern discussed throughout the week is the likelihood of farmers shifting acres from corn to soybeans due to the high costs and uncertain availability of nitrogen fertilizers. Early in the week,…

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Apr 10 | Market Review and Weather Update

  • April 10, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

WILLAg.org Radio Programming for the work week ending April 10, 2026
Commodity Markets and Geopolitical Influences
The week in commodity markets was heavily influenced by geopolitical events and energy prices, particularly the ongoing conflict with Iran. Earlier in the week, traders squared positions and moved to the sidelines ahead of a deadline with Iran, while keeping a close watch on crude oil resistance levels. Later, a temporary truce caused crude oil prices to plunge,…

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Apr 03 | Weather Update and Market Review

  • April 3, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

We had a warm and wet end to March and start to April across the prairie state. Average temperatures this week ranged from the high 40s in northern Illinois to the high 50s in southern Illinois, between 4 and 10 degrees above normal.
by Trent Ford, State Climatologist
ISWS PRI University of Illinois
Some of the more impressive high temperatures this week included 93 degrees in Jacksonville and 88 in Champaign. March ended around 6 degrees warmer than normal statewide,…

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USDA Ag Outlook Forum Acreage Figures

  • February 19, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

USDA this morning released its Agricultural Outlook Forum acreage, yield and production numbers. These are widely anticipated by the trade and will be incorporated into the May WASDE (World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates) for corn and soybeans. The May WASDE includes the first official set of supply and demand tables for the new crop year.
USDA expects a slight decline in total acreage across wheat, corn, and soybean to 224 million (down ~1%). This number assumes a normal level of prevent plant acres and a modest expansion in the Conservation Reserve Program.…

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May 16 | Weekly Markets and Climate Review

  • May 16, 2025

  • Todd Gleason

The second full week in May brought summer heat to the Midwest. Average temperatures this week ranged from the high 50s in northern Illinois to the low 70s in southern Illinois, between 2 and 8 degrees above normal. Significant early season heat late in the week was noteworthy, as temperatures reached into the low to mid 90s statewide. Combined with high humidity, heat index values approached the triple digits. Thursday’s high of 93 degrees broke the previous May 15th record at O’Hare Airport,…

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