Weekly Market Update 8/28/2025

Here is your weekly market update from the Garden City Co-op Grain Origination Team.

Trivia

1.  What is the chemical symbol for gold?

2. Which planet rotates clockwise on its axis?

Answers at the bottom.

Market News
 

GCC ALPINE PRO: Your GCC Grain Team is getting ready to launch enrollment for our Alpine Pro wheat contract. This contract prices July 2026 (new crop) wheat futures through a combination of committee pricing and a proprietary rules-based algorithm. Especially unique to this contract is our provision that allows a farmer to be released from the contract in cases of verified crop failure like drought, freeze or hail. This managed contract is a great tool to add diversification to your grain marketing portfolio. Sign up will run through the end of September, with the pricing window running through the beginning of May 2026. Reach out to your grain originator to learn more and to see if this contract could be a good fit for your operation’s needs.

MARKETS: As the current marketing year nears its end and preparations for the 2025/26 season begin next week, expectations are high for an abundant supply, driven by record corn and soybean crops in the U.S. However, uncertainties remain about demand. The corn balance sheet may be adjusted to reflect a smaller crop than currently estimated, potentially aligning with "Pro Farmer" estimates or slightly exceeding last year's yield due to overstated USDA demand figures. Meanwhile, soybeans require urgent imports from China to support U.S. consumption, as domestic crushing alone cannot satisfy total demand. KC wheat saw new lows on Wednesday as global values have softened in recent days. The weakness reflects a quiet export market through September, as EU and Black Sea offers pulled back. Most commodities are trading within a penny or two of unchanged.

TARIFFS ON INDIA: Plans were implemented after an agreement to postpone negotiations was not reached. Following the decision to increase tariffs by 50%, not all sectors of Indian exports to the U.S. were impacted. Notably, the pharmaceuticals, electronics (including smartphones and semiconductors), and energy-related exports remained relatively unaffected. In total, just over half of India's exports to the U.S. will be subject to these new tariffs. The sectors expected to be the most significantly impacted include textiles, footwear, jewelry, and furniture. In 2024, the U.S. imported about $87.4 billion in goods from India, making it the 10th largest source of U.S. imports. The additional 25% tariffs on Indian imports are due to India’s significant purchases of Russian energy. Despite this, India plans to continue its energy imports for security reasons, as noted by junior Foreign Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh. Other major buyers, such as China and Turkey, have not faced similar tariffs.

CROP PROGRESS: Harvest will be here before we know it as crops are beginning to reach maturity. Kansas corn is estimated at 12% mature and milo nearing 6% maturity. Conditions have continued to decline as Kansas corn has dropped to 59% good to excellent and milo at 58% good to excellent, dropping 1 point and 2 points, respectively. Both corn and milo are well below the national average good to excellent ratings. Soybean conditions have decreased 2 points, now at 66% in Kansas, while the national average has increased to 69% good to excellent.

 EXPORT SALES AND INSPECTIONS: New crop corn export sales totaled 82.3 million bushels this morning, a decreased compared to those volumes seen last week. Current week export inspections totaled 51.4 million bushels. New crop soybean sales totaled 50.4 million bushels this week. Soybean export inspections for the week were reported at 14.1 million bushels. Wheat export inspections were reported at 34.8 million bushels and export sales totaled 21.3 million bushels, sitting towards the upper end of USDA estimates this week. Once again, a quiet week for milo - no sales of O/C milo were reported and N/C sales totaled 1.2 million bushels. No current export inspections were reported this week. Milo remains 22% below the marketing year-to-date sales relative to the seasonal pace needed to reach USDA targets and 7% below year-to-date inspections.

WEATHER: After a dreary start to the week, there is hope for sunshine today, as skies are forecasted to be partly sunny with a high near 77°F. Tonight and tomorrow morning will bring patchy fog, clearing by 10 am to bring partly sunny skies and a high of 78°F. Chances for showers and thunderstorms return Friday night with a 40% chance, followed by 40% chances during the day Saturday and a 50% chance of thunderstorms Saturday night. Sunday will bring sunshine and a high of 79°F to lead into Labor Day, with highs near 82°F. Next week, sunshine will stay and temperatures with remain in the low 80s.

 

Trivia Answers

1. Au

2. Venus