3 Big Things Today, Sept. 16, 2025
- Media Logic Radio
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
By Tony Dreibus
1. Soybeans, Grains Higher Overnight as Ratings Drop
Soybean and grain futures were higher in overnight trading as crop conditions decline further.
About 63% of U.S. soybeans were in good or excellent condition at the start of the week, down from 64% a week earlier, the USDA said. A month ago, 68% of the crop had earned top ratings.
The soybean harvest is underway with 5% in the bin, up from the prior five-year average of 3%, the agency said. Forty-one percent of the crop was dropping leaves.
Sixty-seven percent of the corn crop was rated good or excellent as of Sunday, down a percentage point week-over-week and below the 71% that had earned top ratings a month earlier, the agency said.
Seven percent was harvested at the start of the week versus 4% seven days earlier and on par with the average for this time of year, USDA said.
The spring wheat harvest is set to wrap up as 94% was collected as of Sunday, up from 85% the week prior and the 92% average.
Winter wheat planting is underway with 11% now in the ground versus 5% last week and the average of 13%, the government said.
Soybeans for November delivery rose 5½¢ to $10.48¼ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soymeal gained 10¢ to $285.80 a short ton and soybean oil futures added 0.66¢ to 52.92¢ a pound.
Corn futures rose 3½¢ to $4.26½ a bushel.
Wheat futures for December delivery added 3¢ to $5.28 a bushel. Kansas City futures gained 3¢ to $5.17 a bushel.
2. Export Inspections Up Across the Board, USDA Says
Export inspections of corn, wheat and soybean all jumped in the seven days that ended on Sept. 11, according to a report from the USDA.
Corn inspections totaled 1.51 million metric tons, the agency said. That’s up from 1.44 million tons a week earlier and well ahead of the 568,915 tons that were assessed during the same week last year.
Examinations of wheat for offshore delivery jumped to 755,073 metric tons from 429,116 tons the week prior and 590,110 tons at the same point a year earlier.
Soybean assessments last week totaled 804,352 metric tons versus 467,624 tons a previous week and 590,110 in the same week in 2024, USDA said.
Since the start of the marketing year on Sept. 1, the government has inspected 2.16 million metric tons of corn for export, up from 1.05 million tons at this point last year.
Soybean inspections in the first 11 days of the month were reported at 1.07 million metric tons versus 747,598 tons in the same timeframe a year earlier, the agency said.
Wheat assessments since the start of the grain’s marketing year on June 1 are now at 7.86 million metric tons, up from 7 million tons during the same period the year prior, USDA said in its report.
3. Thunderstorms Forecast for the Southern Plains
Thunderstorms are forecast for parts of the southern Plains today and tonight with some potentially turning strong, the National Weather Service said in a report early this morning.
Gusty winds are expected in the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles where planting of hard red winter wheat is underway.
Storms are forecast to linger in the region until at least Monday, though there’s little chance for severe storms, the agency said.
Thunderstorms are also likely in parts of eastern Iowa today and tonight as lightning, small hail and intense winds are expected.
More storms are expected in the area tomorrow with little chance of severe weather, NWS said.
