3 Big Things Today, Sept. 12, 2025

1. Grains, Soybeans Little Changed Ahead of WASDE

Grain and soybean futures were little changed in overnight trading as investors square positions ahead of today’s supply and demand reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The government is expected to slightly reduce its new-crop production forecasts when it releases its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report at noon in Washington. 

USDA will likely forecast corn production at 16.516 billion bushels on yield of 186.2 bushels an acre, according to analysts polled by Reuters. That would be down from the August forecast for 16.742 billion bushels on yield of 188.8 bushels an acre. 

Soybean output will probably be pegged by USDA at 4.271 billion bushels on yield of 53.3 bushels an acre, the Reuters poll said. The government last month projected production of 4.292 billion bushels on yield of 53.6 bushels an acre. 

Favorable weather in the Corn Belt throughout much of the growing season led to lofty expectations, but dry weather in the past month in some areas will likely lead USDA to reduce its production outlook for both crops. 

Corn futures rose ¾¢ to $4.20½ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. 

Soybeans for November delivery added ¼¢ to $10.33½ a bushel. Soymeal lost 90¢ to $286.80 a short ton and soybean oil futures added 0.19¢ to 51.79¢ a pound. 

Wheat futures for December delivery fell ½¢ to $5.21 a bushel. Kansas City futures lost ½¢ to $5.09½ a bushel. 

2. Export Sales of Corn, Beans Jumped in 2024-2025

Sales of corn and soybeans to overseas buyers in the 2024/2025 marketing year that ended on Aug. 31 surged year over year, according to the USDA. 

Exporters sold 69.1 million metric tons of corn for export in the year through August, a 27% year-over-year increase. 

Soybean sales jumped 13% annually to 50.1 million metric tons, the agency said. 

Corn sales in the week through Sept. 4 for delivery in the 2025/2026 marketing year totaled 539,900 metric tons as Mexico purchased 256,500 tons, Japan took 143,700 tons, and an unnamed country was in for 95,500 tons. Vietnam bought 74,500 tons and Colombia purchased 22,600 tons, USDA said. 

Spain canceled orders for 49,500 tons, Portugal nixed shipments of 30,000 tons, and Costa Rica canceled an order for 16,300 tons. 

Soybean sales last week totaled 541,100 metric tons, the government said. An unnamed country took 431,700 tons, Taiwan was in for 62,000 tons, Indonesia purchased 32,900 tons, Malaysia bought 14,200 tons, and Nepal took 7,500 tons. 

That more than offset cancelations of 49,900 tons by Mexico, 44,200 tons by Algeria, 33,800 tons by Taiwan, 31,000 tons by Japan, and 29,200 tons by Tunisia. 

Wheat sales for delivery in the 2025/2026 marketing year that started on June 1 fell 2% week over week to 305,400 metric tons. 

That’s also down 43% from the prior four-week average, the agency said. 

Japan was the big buyer at 78,600 tons, followed by Indonesia at 70,000 tons, and the Philippines at 41,000 tons. Venezuela purchased 33,600 tons and Mexico bought 27,300 tons of U.S. wheat. 

Exports for the week totaled 356,500 tons, down 60% from the previous week. 

3. Severe Storms Expected in Parts of North Dakota

Severe thunderstorms are forecast for parts of central North Dakota this afternoon and tonight, the National Weather Service said in a report early this morning. 

Hail as large as half dollars and winds gusting to 60 mph are expected in the area, the agency said. Excessive rainfall is also expected. 

Intense storms are expected through the weekend, NWS said. 

In northern Illinois, meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms are possible tonight into tomorrow morning. Locally heavy rainfall and flooding are the main concerns associated with the storms. 

Showers are also expected on Saturday afternoon and evening in the area, the agency said.