Closing Market Report

The October 9, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report features host Todd Gleason analyzing daily commodity markets and the latest USDA crop production estimates. Guest Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting reviews the unexpected upward revisions to domestic and global corn yields, noting that the data runs counter to recent market trends and creates new headwinds for prices. Additionally, Joshua Nagelberg of CropProphet outlines the agricultural weather forecast, highlighting an incoming wet pattern for the western Corn Belt and evaluating how the current El Nino weather event is impacting early planting conditions for South American crops.01:32 Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting12:27 Ag Weather with Joshua Nagelberg, CropProphet ★ Support this podcast ★

The October 8, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report covers late-season harvest conditions and an exploration of global food systems. Host Todd Gleason first speaks with Matt Bennett of AgMarket.net, who notes that favorable dry-down weather has accelerated the harvest, with soybeans generally outperforming corn yields ahead of the upcoming USDA Crop Production report. The broadcast then shifts to an interview with Michelle Michael and Brandon Whitworth, co-directors of the documentary *World Without Cows*. The filmmakers discuss their travel to 22 countries to document the complex cultural, economic, and environmental roles cattle play worldwide, emphasizing the need for nuanced, non-polarizing conversations about agricultural sustainability and the diverse goals of global producers.01:42 Ag Markets with Matt Bennett, AgMarket.net06:46 Alltech's World without Cows Film ★ Support this podcast ★

Hosted by Todd Gleason from the Land Grant University in Urbana-Champaign, this edition of the Closing Market Report broadcasts from the Independent Grocer Summit in Carterville, Illinois, providing updates on agricultural commodities, rural grocery operations, and global weather. Greg Johnson of TGM reports that the Illinois soybean harvest is progressing swiftly with strong yields, whereas corn yields are proving disappointing due to prior weather damage. Johnson also notes a midday market sell-off as traders await the upcoming USDA crop production report. Shifting to rural food systems, Sean Park from the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs highlights the challenging operational landscape for independent grocery stores, which average an exceptionally slim 1% net profit margin. Park emphasizes that these rural grocers can remain competitive against large retailers by strictly monitoring unsold inventory, embedding themselves in the community, and developing destination-worthy meat departments. Finally, World Weather Inc. meteorologist Drew Lerner forecasts that Tropical Storm Delta will rapidly intensify into a hurricane before making landfall on the Gulf Coast, bringing severe flooding to southern regions and eventual beneficial rains to the Midwest. Lerner also anticipates a cold front bringing the season's first snow to the northern plains and notes that excessive rain is currently delaying agricultural fieldwork in southern Brazil.00:30 Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, TGM08:41 Extension's Independent Grocer Summit16:46 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc ★ Support this podcast ★

The October 6, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report covers commodity market movements, federal policy developments, harvest progress, and agricultural weather. Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing analyzes a "Turnaround Tuesday" rally across corn, soybeans, wheat, and feeder cattle, driven by technical buying and positioning ahead of the USDA WASDE report. USDA crop progress data reveals corn and soybean harvest pacing behind five-year averages nationwide, led by significant weather-related delays in Iowa. Energy analyst Dave Chatterton reviews President Trump’s executive order deferring taxes and waiving penalties on highway use of red-dyed diesel, noting that while it offers short-term cash flow relief, it does not resolve broader diesel refining and supply constraints. The broadcast concludes with a global weather outlook predicting a much-needed dry window across the U.S. Corn Belt and mixed conditions in South America, followed by a demonstration of an AI-generated hyper-local ag weather forecast for Sangamon County, Illinois, tracking field conditions and bare soil temperatures for fall fertilizer applications.01:24 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing07:10 USDA Harvest Progress Update09:03 President Trump's Diesel Fuel E.O.19:06 Global Growing Regions Update20:47 A.I. Delivers Hyper Local Forecast for Todd  ★ Support this podcast ★

The October 5, 2026 edition of the Closing Market Report opens with commodity market settlements before agricultural economist Ed Usset discusses harvest rain delays, localized spikes in soybean basis bids, and grain marketing strategies ahead of the upcoming USDA WASDE report. The broadcast then examines the rapid expansion of data centers into rural America with American Farm Bureau Federation economist Bernt Nelson, addressing the balance between high financial offers for landowners, the permanent loss of productive farmland, and agriculture's increasing dependence on data storage for precision farming. Concluding the program, EverStream Analytics meteorologist Mark Russo delivers the weather outlook, forecasting a shift to warmer and drier conditions across the Midwest to aid harvest progress through late October, alongside favorable early planting conditions across South America despite planting delays in wet southern Brazil.02:03 Ag Markets with Ed Usset, University of Minnesota13:57 Data Centers, a new farm country neighbor17:57 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream Analytics ★ Support this podcast ★