3 Big Things Today, April 15, 2025

1. Soybean Futures Lower in Overnight Trading

Soybean futures were lower in overnight trading as the dollar rebounds overnight and as U.S. planting begins. 

The U.S. dollar managed to eke out gains overnight, rising 0.1%. A stronger greenback makes dollar-denominated goods including agricultural products less attractive to overseas buyers. 

Planting has started as 2% of the U.S. soybean crop was in the ground at the start of the week, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture. That’s on par with the same week a year earlier. 

Corn sowing is also underway with 4% now planted, the agency said. That’s up from 2% a week earlier, but down from the prior five-year average of 5%. 

Spring wheat planting was 7% finished as of Sunday, up from 3% a week earlier and 11% at this point in 2024. 

Winter wheat continues to grow with 8% headed, up from 5% the previous week and on par with the same week last year, USDA said. 

About 47% of the winter crop was in good or excellent condition at the beginning of the week, down from 48% seven days earlier and well below the 55% that earned top ratings at the same point last year, the agency said. 

Soybean futures for May delivery fell 6¢ to $10.35¾ a bushel. Soymeal was down $3.10 to $294 a short ton, and soy oil dropped 0.11¢ to 46.21¢ a pound.

Corn futures rose 2¢ to $4.87 a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Wheat futures for May delivery fell ¾¢ to $5.46¾ a bushel, while Kansas City futures dropped 4½¢ to $5.50¾ a bushel. 

2. Corn, Wheat Inspections Higher Week-to-Week

Inspections of corn and wheat were higher week to week while soybean assessments declined, according to data from the Ag Department. 

Corn inspections in the seven days that ended on April 10 increased to 1.83 million metric tons, the agency said. 

That’s up from 1.61 million tons a week earlier and 1.36 million tons assessed during the same week last year. 

Examinations of wheat for overseas delivery rose to 604,461 metric tons from 335,088 tons the week prior and 620,139 at this point a year earlier, USDA said. 

Soybean inspections, meanwhile, dropped to 546,348 metric tons from 814,309 tons the previous week, the government said. 

That’s still higher than the 447,550 tons assessed in the same week last year. 

Since the start of the marketing year on Sept. 1, USDA has inspected 37.5 million metric tons of corn for export, up from 28.7 million tons examined during the same timeframe a year earlier, the agency said. 

Soybean assessments since the beginning of September now stand at 42.1 million metric tons, up from 38 million in the same period last year. 

Wheat inspections since the start of the grain’s marketing year on June 1 are now at 18.3 million metric tons, up from 16 million at this point the previous year, USDA said in its report. 

3. Dry Weather Forecast for the Southern Plains

Extremely dry weather is expected throughout the week in parts of the southern Plains, according to the National Weather Service. 

Winds in southwestern Kansas will be sustained this afternoon from 15–25 mph and gust up to 30 mph, the agency said. Relative humidity will fall to 20%. 

Winds will increase by Thursday to 25–35 mph and gust up to 50 mph, and humidity will fall as low as 5%, NWS said.

Winds will kick up by Thursday when they’re forecast to be sustained from 30–40 mph and gust up to 60 mph. 

“Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines,” the agency said. “Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”