3 Big Things Today, Sept. 23, 2025
- Media Logic Radio
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
Soybean, grain futures lower overnight; Egg production in the U.S. down year over year
By Tony Dreibus
1. Soybean, Grain Futures Lower in Overnight Trading
Soybean and grain futures were lower in overnight trading amid harvest pressure and after Argentina eliminated export levies, giving China another alternative to U.S. agricultural products.
Nine percent of U.S. soybeans were harvested as of Sunday, up from 5% a week earlier and on par with the prior five-year average, the Department of Agriculture said in a report. Louisiana led the pack with 74% in the bin, followed by Mississippi at 56% and Arkansas at 35%.
About 61% of the crop was in good or excellent condition, down 2 percentage points from the week prior, the agency said.
The U.S. corn harvest was 11% complete at the start of the week versus 7% seven days earlier and steady with the average for this time of year, USDA said. Sixty-six percent of the crop earned top ratings, down a point week to week.
The spring-wheat harvest is almost complete with 96% in the bin.
Twenty percent of winter wheat was planted as of Sunday, up from 11% the previous week and just behind the average of 23%, the government said. Four percent had emerged, on par with the average.
Also weighing on prices overnight were declining export inspections.
Soybean assessments for overseas delivery fell to 484,116 metric tons from 821,809 tons a week earlier, and corn inspections dropped to 1.33 million tons from 1.51 million seven days earlier, USDA said.
Wheat inspections, however, rose to 854,454 tons from 756,396 tons.
Argentina on Monday said it would scrap its export taxes on grain in a bid to improve the appeal of its agricultural products including soybeans.
China stepped in and purchased at least 10 cargoes of soybeans from Argentina shortly after Buenos Aires said it was ending its export levies, Reuters reported, citing three traders familiar with the deal.
China, the world’s largest importer of the oilseeds, hasn’t bought U.S. soybeans in months amid the ongoing trade spat between the world’s two largest economies. A phone call between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping ended with little discussion of trade, though the two agreed to meet on the sidelines of a conference at the end of October.
Soybeans for November delivery dropped 4 1/2¢ to $10.06 1/2 a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soymeal lost $2.50 to $277.60 a short ton and soybean oil futures declined 0.04¢ to 49.65¢ a pound.
Corn futures fell 1¢ to $4.20 3/4 a bushel.
Wheat futures for December delivery lost 3/4¢ to $5.10 a bushel. Kansas City futures were down 3/4¢ to $5.01 1/2 a bushel.
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2. Egg Output, Average Layers Down Year Over Year
Egg production in the U.S. declined year over year in August as did the average number of layers, according to data from the Ag Department.
Output last month dropped 2% to 8.89 billion, the agency said.
That included 7.59 billion table eggs and 1.3 billion hatching eggs, which included 1.19 billion broilers and 118 million egg types.
The average number of egg layers were reported at 364 million, down 1% year over year, USDA said. Egg production per 100 layers was 2,444 eggs, also a 1% decline.
Egg-type chicks hatched in August, however, rose 5% from the same month a year earlier to 57.4 million, and eggs in Incubators on Sept. 1 jumped 12% to 55 million, the government said.
Broiler-type chicks hatched last month were up slightly to 879 million, while broiler eggs in incubators rose 1% to 749 million.
Placements of egg-type pullet chicks to supply hatcheries declined 2% annually, and broiler-type placements dropped 5% year over year, USDA said in its report.
3. Flood Watches Issued From Kansas Through Arkansas
Flood watches have been issued for a large chunk of land stretching from west-central Kansas into central Arkansas amid excessive rain and saturated soils, National Weather Service maps show.
Additional rain on top of what’s already fallen is expected in western Kansas in the next 24 hours, the agency said. While the storms aren’t forecast to turn severe, they will increase the chance of flooding.
Stronger storms are projected in parts of southeastern Kansas this afternoon, and more showers and thunderstorms are expected in the area into tomorrow and tomorrow night.
In central Arkansas, meanwhile, excessive precipitation will likely result in flooding of rivers, creeks and streams and other low-lying areas, NWS said.
Some areas had already seen more than 6 inches of rain through midday Monday and “several rounds” are expected in the region. Another 1 to 3 inches in some areas and up to 8 inches locally are possible with the storms, the agency said.
