3 Big Things Today, Jan. 14, 2026
- Media Logic Radio
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Tony Dreibus | Updated on January 14, 2026
1. Corn, Soybean Futures Rise on Signs of Demand
Corn and soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of continued demand for U.S. supplies.
South Korea purchased 204,000 metric tons of U.S. corn and an unnamed country bought an additional 310,000 tons, all for delivery in the 2025–2026 marketing year that ends on Aug. 31, USDA data shows.
China bought 168,000 metric tons of U.S. soybeans, and Mexico purchased 152,404 tons of the oilseeds, also for delivery in the current marketing year, the agency said yesterday.
Investors who were short the market, or had bet on lower prices, likely bought back contracts and closed their positions after prices dropped following a bearish supply and demand report from the Ag Department on Monday.
Still, this morning's price move seems to lack conviction.
"Futures are attempting a meager recovery from Monday's distressing USDA report, but it's not a move that's going to energize either the fundamentalists or technicians," said John Zanker, senior analyst at Farmer's Keeper Financial.
Harvested acreage was adjusted by USDA to 92.4% in Monday's report, a move that shouldn't have been made all at once, he said.
"The harvested acreage adjustment was unprecedented and certainly poorly timed," Zanker said.
Soybean futures for March delivery rose 5½¢ to $10.44¼ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Soy meal added 70¢ to $292.30 a short ton, and soy oil gained 0.32¢ to 51.52¢ a pound.
Corn for March delivery rose 3¾¢ to $4.23½ a bushel.
Wheat futures gained 1¢ to $5.11½ a bushel, and Kansas City futures fell ¼¢ to $5.19¼ a bushel.
2. Farmers to Curb Supply on Reduced Profitability, WFII Says
Farmers will be forced to stem supply growth in coming years amid reduced profitability due to global oversupply and as input costs continue to rise, Wells Fargo Investment Institute said in a note to clients.
That, however, may lead to price improvements in the long term, the bank said.
Easing supply disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war, large harvests in South America and reduced demand for U.S. goods from China prior to the October trade agreement all contributed to ample global supply, WFII Investment Strategy Analyst Mason Mendez said.
Though the U.S. government promised farmers a $12 billion aid package and China has agreed to purchase 25 million metric tons of soybeans — less than the average purchased annually between 2020 and 2024 — WFII doesn't see a "material change" in global oversupply.
Also hurting farmer profitability are input costs that have continued to rise even as prices paid for crops faltered.
"We suspect that these challenges impacting profitability could eventually drive U.S. farmers to trim supply growth in the years to come," he said.
The U.S. accounts for about 31% of the world's corn, 28% of soybean production and 7% of global wheat output.
"If U.S. producers were to begin curbing output growth, we believe it could be a tailwind for moderately improving prices and sector performance," Mendez said.
3. Strong Winds Expected Thursday, Friday in Several States
Intense winds are expected from the Canadian border with North Dakota south into western Kansas, National Weather Service maps show.
In central South Dakota, winds on Thursday and Friday will be sustained from 35–45 mph and gust up to 60 mph, the agency said.
"High winds may move loose debris, damage property and cause power outages," NWS said. "Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles."
In east-central Nebraska, winds will also top out at around 60 mph.
Winds in northwestern Kansas and northeastern Colorado, where red-flag warnings have been issued starting tomorrow, will reach 30–40 mph and gust up to 60 mph.
Relative humidity on Thursday is expected to drop to around 14%, increasing the risk of wildfires in the region, NWS said.
ARTICLE: SUCCESSFUL FARMING, JANUARY 14, 2026
