USDA planting reports have a way of jolting grain markets, even for producers a long way from the Corn Belt. This week’s round of USDA acreage and planting-related data has traders sorting out whether the U.S. will end up with more or fewer corn and soybean acres than previously expected. Reports indicate that kind of […]
USDA export “flash sales” don’t mention Montana, but they can still move the numbers that matter here: feed costs, basis levels, and the mood of the cattle market. Reports indicate USDA logged another round of export business late March tied to the 2025-26 marketing year, which for corn and soybeans starts Sept. 1. When those […]
Corn and soybean futures were reported higher in overnight trade as markets positioned ahead of scheduled USDA reports. That kind of pre-report move doesn’t guarantee where prices end up after the numbers hit, but it does signal that traders are paying attention to acreage intentions, supply-and-demand updates, and any changes in export or domestic use. […]
Grain markets sent mixed signals in afternoon trade, with corn showing more resilience while soybeans drifted lower. Reports indicate corn drew support from strength in the energy complex, while soybeans didn’t keep pace. For Montana producers, the day-to-day moves matter less than the direction they point: feed inputs, basis levels, and the timing of marketing […]
Montana farmers are heading into another planning cycle with a familiar problem: fertilizer remains one of the biggest line items on the budget, and many producers say they don’t feel like they have much leverage when it’s time to buy. Reports from the Northern Plains suggest that consolidation in the fertilizer sector has reduced competition, […]
Fertilizer has been one of the most stubborn line items in farm budgets since the price spikes of the early 2020s. Now, reports indicate the U.S. Department of Justice is taking a closer look at the fertilizer industry, including concerns raised by farm groups about pricing and market concentration. For Montana producers—whether you’re raising spring […]
Montana producers are heading into another planning cycle with fertilizer still near the top of the worry list. Reports indicate the U.S. Department of Justice has been taking a harder look at fertilizer markets and pricing behavior, following complaints from farm groups about steep price swings and a highly concentrated industry. The investigation itself doesn’t […]
Montana producers have spent the last few seasons juggling high interest rates, volatile cattle markets, and weather that can turn on a dime. But for many grain and hay operations—especially those buying nitrogen and phosphate—one line item keeps landing near the top of the budget: fertilizer. Reports indicate federal officials are taking a closer look […]
Montana producers have been living with high input costs for several seasons, and fertilizer remains one of the biggest line items for anyone pushing yield on small grains, corn silage, irrigated pasture, or hay. Now, reports indicate the U.S. Department of Justice is taking a harder look at the fertilizer industry amid ongoing complaints from […]
Weekly U.S. export sales numbers can feel like a distant coastal story, but they often reach all the way to Montana’s grain bins, feedyards, and hay stacks. Recent reports indicate wheat export sales came in above many market expectations, while corn sales continued a strong pace and soybean volumes didn’t generate the same enthusiasm. For […]