By Tony Dreibus | Updated on January 28, 2026

1. Soybean, Grain Futures Jump on Dollar Weakness

Soybean and grain futures were higher in overnight trading as the value of the U.S. dollar hovers around a four-year low. 

The dollar has fallen 3.8% in the past six months amid ongoing tariff wars with several countries and other geopolitical upheavals. Gold futures climbed to record highs as investors seek haven investments. 

The greenback's decline, in turn, has made U.S. agricultural products and other dollar-denominated exports cheaper for overseas buyers. 

Unnamed countries purchased 110,000 metric tons of corn and 306,000 metric tons of sorghum, all for delivery in the 2025-2026 marketing year that ends on Aug. 31, USDA said yesterday. 

Corn futures were given a boost after President Donald Trump said he would like to see year-round E15 ethanol blends during a speech in Iowa. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are working on a bill to get year-round

E15 approved and "are very close to getting it done," Trump said during his speech to farmers. 

Soybean futures for March delivery jumped 10¢ to $10.77 1/4 a bushel. Soy meal added $2.80 to $296.80 a short ton and soy oil futures were up 0.14¢ to 54.55¢ a pound. 

Corn futures rose 3 1/4¢ to $4.29 3/4 a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. 

Wheat futures gained 7 1/4¢ to $5.30 1/2 a bushel, while Kansas City futures added 5 1/4¢ to $5.38 a bushel. 

2. Clarity on Biofuels Policies Could Help Soybean Industry, ASA Says

Transparency on biofuels policies would likely give the soybean industry a shot in the arm, according to a report released by the American Soybean Association.

Expanding biofuel use has been a "bright spot" for the soybean industry, though the amount of soybean oil used to produce alternative fuels dropped by almost a half, ASA said. 

"The lack of clarity in 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit guidance and low renewable volume obligations (RVOs) caused many biodiesel facilities to idle," Scott Gerit, the chief economist for the ASA, said in the report. 

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed blending levels for 2026 and 2027 but hasn't yet finalized the rule. 

The proposal would increase minimum blending levels by 67% from 2025, EPA said. 

"If achieved, this increase would energize biofuel markets with robust demand," the report said. "It would also provide certainty to the same markets for the next two years."

The proposal would mean an additional 200 million bushels per year of soybeans would be crushed to support the RVOs, Gerit said in his report. 

3. Wind Chills to Hit Minus-20 in Indiana, Ohio

 Wind chills in central Indiana and Ohio will drop as low as minus-20 degrees Fahrenheit tonight into Thursday, the National Weather Service said in a report early this morning. 

In central Illinois, meanwhile, values will fall to around 15 to 20 degrees below, the agency said. 

"The dangerously cold wind chills ... could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes," NWS said. 

Freezing fog advisories are in effect in parts of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. 

Visibility is down to a quarter mile in some counties due to the freezing fog, the agency said. Driving conditions are or will become hazardous. 

Article: SUCCESSFUL FARMING, JANUARY 28, 2026