By Tony Dreibus | Published on January 8, 2026

1. Soybean, Grain Futures Little Change Overnight

Soybean and grain futures were little changed in overnight trading as investors weigh demand for U.S. supplies against projected large global crops. 

China bought 336,000 metric tons of soybeans from U.S. suppliers, the Ag Department said on Tuesday, an indication that the Asian nation is still in the market despite large imports from South America. 

While demand has been strong recently, traders were hoping to see further purchases from China, the world’s largest importer of the oilseeds. 

StoneX raised its outlook for Brazilian soybean production to 177.6 million metric tons, a slight increase from its December outlook and above USDA’s December forecast for 175 million metric tons. 

Either outcome would be a record high for soybean production in Brazil. 

Wheat prices were underpinned on concerns about the condition of the hard red winter crop in Kansas.

The state’s crop was rated 60% good or excellent, down from 70% a month earlier, USDA data show. 

Topsoil moisture was 56% adequate or surplus on Jan. 4, down from 82% at the same point a month earlier, and subsoil moisture was 60% adequate or surplus, down from 74% at the start of December. 

Soybean futures for March delivery fell 1¢ to $10.66 a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soy meal lost 80¢ to $304.60 a short ton, and soy oil added 0.21¢ to 49.52¢ a pound. 

Corn for March delivery was down ½¢ to $4.46¼ a bushel. 

Wheat futures gained 1¼¢ to $5.19¼ a bushel, and Kansas City futures rose ¼¢ to $5.31¾ a bushel. 

RELATED: Grains Mixed This Morning | Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026

2. Ethanol Output Falls, Inventories Jump to Five-Month High

Ethanol output declined week to week while inventories increased to the highest level in five months, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. 

Production of the biofuel dropped to an average of 1.098 million barrels a day in the week that ended on Jan. 2, the agency said. 

That’s down from 1.12 million barrels a day in the previous week. 

In the Midwest, by far the biggest producing region, output fell to an average of 1.041 million barrels a day from 1.063 million. 

That was the entirety of the losses as every other region’s output was unchanged during New Year’s week. 

Gulf Coast production was unchanged at 26,000 barrels a day, East Coast and Rocky Mountain output were steady at 11,000 barrels and West Coast production remained at 9,000 barrels for a second straight week, EIA said. 

Ethanol stockpiles, meanwhile, jumped to 23.652 million barrels last week. 

That’s up from 22.944 million barrels seven days earlier and the highest level since Aug. 1, the agency said in its report. 

3. Rain, Snow Expected in Parts of Nebraska, Iowa

Rain will turn to light snow in parts of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa this afternoon into tomorrow morning with up to an inch of accumulation expected, according to the National Weather Service.

Saturday may bring more snow to the area, though NWS put the odds of increased precipitation at 20–30%.

Gusty north winds are also forecast for the weekend, which may mean reduced visibility on roadways. 

Widespread rainfall is expected in central Iowa this afternoon. 

“While the overall severe weather threat is low, an isolated severe storm could occur over southeast Iowa,” NWS said. 

ARTICLE: SUCCESSFUL FARMING, JANUARY 8, 2026