TFM Midday Update 08-19-2026

CORN

Corn is higher at midday following a disappointing start to the crop tour, with lower-than-expected yield results providing support to the market. December corn is 7-1/2 cents higher at 4.95-1/2.
Yesterday brought another disappointing round of crop tour results, with Nebraska’s yield estimated at 163.61 BPA, the lowest since 2022 and down from 179.5 BPA last year and the three-year average of 173.32 BPA. Indiana also came in lower, with an estimated yield of 183.54 BPA compared with 193.82 BPA last year.
Weather over the next week shows rain chances favoring eastern Nebraska, southern Iowa and the eastern Corn Belt, while the 6–10 day outlook calls for cooler temperatures across the eastern Corn Belt and continued heat across the Southern Plains.
Ethanol production fell to 320 million gallons, down from 328 million the previous week, however still up 1.6% year over year.

Soybeans are lower at midday as disappointing pod counts from the crop tour add pressure to the market. November soybeans are 20-3/4 cents higher at 12.37-1/2. The entire soy complex is posting gains at midday.
Lower pod counts on day two of the crop tour provided support to soybean prices. Nebraska pod counts came in at 1,219.62, down from 1,348.10 last year, while Indiana pod counts were 1,318.64, compared with 1,376.59 last year.
SinoGrain auctioned 360,000 tons of soybeans overnight and sold 308,000 tons, a move that is being viewed as an effort to make room for additional U.S. bean purchases. Flash sales of U.S. soybeans to China since August 11 have totaled 777,000 tons.
ANEC expects Brazil’s August soybean exports to reach 10.56 million tons, up from 8.11 million tons in August last year. Soybean meal exports are projected at 2.52 million tons, compared with 2.02 million tons last year.

Wheat is sharply higher at midday, supported by continued geopolitical tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. December Chicago wheat is 15-1/2 cents higher at 6.97, while Kansas City December is up 14-1/2 cents at 7.73.
Overnight, Ukraine struck five Russian grain vessels, while Russia attacked two cargo ships at Odesa and a Ukrainian thermal power plant. The continued attacks are disrupting Black Sea shipping and causing a buildup of supplies in the region.
Russian rail operator Rusagrotrans expects August Russian wheat exports to be at their lowest level since 2010.
Spring wheat dryness continues, with the forecast showing limited precipitation over the next week across the southern Canadian Prairies and the northern and northwestern Plains. The lack of moisture will likely keep stress elevated across the HRS crop.

Lauren VandenLangenberg