Grain Gleanings

Harvest Plans 2025

By Matt Morog, Grain Department Manager

It has been a summer to remember as far as ideal weather goes for corn and soybean development. Maybe we need a touch of warmer and dryer weather to finish, but we are at a point at which we could be looking at record corn production for the area. Soybean yields are yet to be determined fully, but it looks like they too will be a very high yield.

This brings us to the good problems we all have on our way. Where is all this grain going to go come fall? Many are aware of the issues we are facing with getting our regular PNW soybean export program going. During a normal bean harvest, between Marion/Lyons, we ship 4-6 shuttles of beans to the PNW. Right now, that outlet for the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Nebraska is not looking good. It’s all going to strain logistics and space when you combine the lack of bean exports with a record corn production.

This is leading many customers to write basis contracts for both corn and soybeans to secure space come harvest. Basis contracts help us guide our logistics and plan accordingly. With your support from selling us corn ahead of harvest and prior years it is allowing us to sell and plan corn shuttles accordingly. We anticipate potentially handling 30-40% more corn than last year.

We will have a DP program as well for both corn and soybeans. It will inevitably be at a higher rate than last year with the size of the crop and lack of bean exports. But know we are doing everything we can to plan so that our customers are able to keep harvesting. That may mean we have to put more beans in our long bunkers and put corn in the elevator for trains. A consequence of that could be slightly longer wait times dumping beans but will also allow us to handle more beans in total. We hope with prior planning that we can be a good resource for your operation during this very busy harvest.

8/8/2025

Looking Good!

By Becky Johnson, Elevator Location Manager, Salem

Hard to believe that harvest is just around the corner.  Weather has caused some issues in areas around South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa over the last week but all in all the crops are coming along very nicely.

The crops at this time look as though they might be the best yield we have had in some time, but a lot can happen between now and harvest.

The markets continue to reflect on the anticipation that crops are going to be bountiful throughout the USA.    You may want to look at the benefits of what a basis contract has to offer.  Grain Originators and Grain Location Managers are available to help with questions you may have along with offering you other options we have available that may benefit you in your market strategies.

Please use caution when pulling up to a stop sign in the rural areas for the corn stalks are tall, making visibility difficult especially pulling out onto roadways.

Wishing all an uneventful rest of your growing season and a good rest of your summer.

8/1/2025

Anticipation

By Hunter Behrens, Grain Originator, Lyons

Early Thursday morning the USDA reported sale of 135,000 metric tons of US new crop corn to China as well as another three plus boats of new crop corn to unknown. Roughly a half hour later the USDA released another statement that the China sale has been confirmed incorrect. The short-lived headline had the corn and soybean market rally early in the session but settled lower by the end with corn three cents higher and beans up a penny respectively. Widespread precipitation and overall good weather throughout the corn belt has been the main reason for the corn and soybean market making summertime lows. The extended weather forecast calls for milder temps and regular rainfall during the first half of August which will keep feeding the bear market. The US corn crop rating suggests a yield above USDA estimates and could be closer to 185 if weather continues to be favorable. Exports have been slightly lower than estimated and could increase the carryout, which will also have a negative influence on the market. Soybeans are in the same boat; anticipate yields to increase, demand to remain uncertain and weather to stay favorable.

7/25/2025