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The July 14, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report highlights shifting grain dynamics, regional crop conditions, and agricultural energy concerns amid escalating global conflicts. Market analyst Naomi Blohm notes that a recent shift to slightly cooler nighttime temperatures has taken some heat pressure out of corn and soybean prices, while wheat experiences a war premium driven by renewed tensions in the Black Sea region. Nationally, crop progress remains steady, though states west of the Mississippi—particularly Minnesota and Iowa—are significantly outperforming eastern Corn Belt states like Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Energy expert Susan Stroud addresses the growing volatility in the diesel market, explaining how supply crunches in Europe, domestic biofuel mandates, and the continued depletion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve are squeezing fuel availability ahead of the fall harvest. Finally, meteorologist Don Day warns that a stubborn high-pressure ridge will sustain well-above-average temperatures and dry conditions across the northern tier and western Corn Belt for the next 10 to 12 days.
01:15 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
07:30 USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report
09:29 Crop Protection Network Disease Report
10:47 AgriNext & Energies with Susan Stroud, No Bull Ag
20:59 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather
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01:15 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
07:30 USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report
09:29 Crop Protection Network Disease Report
10:47 AgriNext & Energies with Susan Stroud, No Bull Ag
20:59 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather
Creators and Guests
What is Closing Market Report?
Established 1985
The Closing Market Report airs weekdays at 2:06pm central on WILL AM580, Urbana. University of Illinois Extension Farm Broadcaster Todd Gleason hosts the program. Each day he asks commodity analysts about the trade in Chicago, delves deep into the global growing regions weather, and talks with ag economists, entomologists, agronomists, and others involved in agriculture at the farm and industry level.
website: willag.org
twitter: @commodityweek
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The July 14, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report highlights shifting grain dynamics, regional crop conditions, and agricultural energy concerns amid escalating global conflicts. Market analyst Naomi Blohm notes that a recent shift to slightly cooler nighttime temperatures has taken some heat pressure out of corn and soybean prices, while wheat experiences a war premium driven by renewed tensions in the Black Sea region. Nationally, crop progress remains steady, though states west of the Mississippi—particularly Minnesota and Iowa—are significantly outperforming eastern Corn Belt states like Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Energy expert Susan Stroud addresses the growing volatility in the diesel market, explaining how supply crunches in Europe, domestic biofuel mandates, and the continued depletion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve are squeezing fuel availability ahead of the fall harvest. Finally, meteorologist Don Day warns that a stubborn high-pressure ridge will sustain well-above-average temperatures and dry conditions across the northern tier and western Corn Belt for the next 10 to 12 days.
01:15 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
07:30 USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report
09:29 Crop Protection Network Disease Report
10:47 AgriNext & Energies with Susan Stroud, No Bull Ag
20:59 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather
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Todd Gleason: From the Land Grant University in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, this is the Closing Market Report for Tuesday, July 14, 2026. I’m extension’s Todd Gleason. Coming up, we’ll talk about the commodity markets with Naomi Blohm; she’s at totalfarmmarketing.com out of West Bend, Wisconsin. We’ll discuss two things: the upcoming AgriNext conference to be held in St. Louis, along with the ag energies. We’ll do that with Susan Stroud of No Bull Ag. Then we’ll turn our attention to the weather forecast from Don Day on this Tuesday edition of the Closing Market Report from Illinois Public Media.
announce: Todd Gleason’s services are made available to WILL by University of Illinois Extension.
01:15 Ag Markets with Naomi Blohm, Total Farm Marketing
Todd Gleason: September corn for the day at $4.38 and a half, two and a half lower. December new crop down two and three-quarters at $4.60 and a half, and the March at $4.75 and three-quarters, two and three-quarters of a cent lower. November beans $11.91, down three and three-quarters. Meal 20 cents higher for the day. Bean oil down 42 cents. Soft red winter in the December for the wheat at $6.59 and three-quarters, up nine and a quarter. The hard red wheat up 11 and a quarter at $6.92 and a half.
Naomi Blohm at totalfarmmarketing.com now joins us from West Bend, Wisconsin. Thank you, Naomi, for joining us. First, I have to say I have not been through West Bend until this past weekend. What a beautiful area you live in. It is really gorgeous.
Naomi Blohm: Thank you. The Kettle Moraine State Forest is right through there, along with a variety of agriculture, and our crops are looking amazing right now. We are quite blessed even with this heat that’s come through. It’s a gorgeous part of Wisconsin, and not too far from Lake Michigan. The secret will be out if you keep it up!
Todd Gleason: If I keep traveling, it will get out anyway. We should talk more about this marketplace. What kind of changes happened overnight into the day trade today?
Naomi Blohm: With the grain markets, yesterday grain prices had tested overhead resistance with this hot forecast. Last night, the forecast for this week remained hot. Next week shifted to slightly cooler. The biggest part is that for a good portion of the Midwest, nighttime temperatures look to be slightly below 70 degrees, which is good for the plant to have resting time at night. It helps offset the heat. We are waiting to see if any rain materializes, but the market took some heat pressure out of it, resulting in lower corn and soybean prices for most of the day today.
Todd Gleason: Yesterday, the crop progress report showed that corn and soybean conditions remain good. Wheat is almost completely harvested, which is ahead of schedule for hard red wheat in the United States.
Naomi Blohm: Crop progress ratings for corn are 68% good to excellent; beans are 65% good to excellent. Both were one percentage point better than the prior week, adding to the overnight pressure. The wheat crop is getting harvested and wrapped up. In Wisconsin, wheat harvest is going strong. Wheat prices had a recovery bounce today after yesterday’s sell-off. Wheat was down yesterday but is trading slightly higher today, partly due to uncertainty in the Black Sea region regarding Russia, Ukraine, and the Sea of Azov. A war premium has gone back into the wheat market, lifting prices today.
Todd Gleason: We have the war in Ukraine and the war with Iran both in full force. This could cause issues related to energies and food, particularly with the Sea of Azov shuttered by the Ukrainians and Russian wheat exports needing to feed the Middle East. How do you see wheat trading over the next few days as people worry about bread lines in the Middle East?
Naomi Blohm: It will be a balancing act through the weekend. The fighting in the Middle East is escalating into nearby countries, with new sirens sounding. We will watch this weekend to see if it becomes more dramatic or if things simmer down. For crude oil, we are watching if prices can get back above the $80 resistance mark. For wheat, we are watching September wheat at $6.50, which is short-term resistance. Unless something major flares up, the market might take it in stride until next week.
Todd Gleason: Do you suppose corn and soybeans will follow crude upward if weather remains normal in the United States?
Naomi Blohm: That’s a good question. Part of it is fund buying. If crude oil exceeds $80 and heads toward $100, corn, soybeans, and bean oil would likely follow. It may be a muted rally if there are no further weather issues. Conversely, if things simmer down in the Middle East and U.S. weather cooperates, there is a seasonal tendency for corn and soybean prices to slide lower into late July and early August. We have removed much of the bearish mentality following recent USDA reports, sitting at a neutral standpoint.
Todd Gleason: Thanks much. We’ll talk with you next week.
Naomi Blohm: Thank you, Todd, I appreciate it.
Todd Gleason: Naomi Blohm is with totalfarmmarketing.com.
07:30 USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report
Todd Gleason: Yesterday afternoon, the United States Department of Agriculture released its weekly Crop Progress Report. The national data for corn, soybeans, and wheat showed steady conditions week-over-week, though state-level data has notable patterns. Nationally, 68% of the corn crop is rated good to excellent, one point better than the previous week but trailing last year’s 74%. Crop development shows 34% of corn is silking, four points ahead of the five-year average, and 6% is in the dough stage. For soybeans, 65% of the crop is rated good to excellent, a one-point weekly gain. Half the soybean crop is blooming, six points ahead of the five-year average, while 19% is setting pods. Winter wheat harvest is 67% complete nationally, outpacing the 61% five-year average.
State-level data shows Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois underperforming states west of the Mississippi. Illinois corn sits at 58% good to excellent, with Ohio and Indiana in the same range. Minnesota reports exceptionally high crop conditions at 84% good to excellent. Iowa is at 78%, and North Dakota sits at 71%. Iowa’s crop went in early; corn silking jumped to 38% and soybean blooming reached 56%, both five points ahead of their averages. In Kansas, the winter wheat harvest is effectively complete at 97%, earlier than the standard timeline.
09:29 Crop Protection Network Disease Report
Todd Gleason: Each week this month, we are including the most current crop disease reports from the Land Grant Universities’ Crop Protection Network. The interactive map shows tar spot of corn becoming an issue across central Indiana and into Vermilion County, Illinois. It skips the rest of Illinois but is reported in 12 Iowa counties and six Minnesota counties. Tar spot is also appearing along the Nebraska-Kansas border. Southern rust of corn is non-existent in the Midwest, and soybean diseases are absent across the region. You can find the Crop Lookout map and spraying recommendations from Land Grant University plant pathologists at cropprotectionnetwork.org.
10:47 AgriNext & Energies with Susan Stroud, No Bull Ag
Todd Gleason: On Tuesdays, we check the agricultural energies. Susan Stroud with No Bull Ag is here. You organize an annual event at the end of the month that dives deep into agriculture. This year, you are partnering with Bloomberg. Can you tell us about the event before we talk about ag energies?
Susan Stroud: I am excited you can attend. It starts Monday evening, July 27th, and runs all day Tuesday, the 28th. Monday features the Boast-Affer Ag Beer Garden kickoff at Anheuser-Busch for networking. Tuesday is the main conference at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. The theme is Inflection Point: Policy, Trade, and the Forces Reshaping Agriculture. Co-presenting with Bloomberg means several Bloomberg Intelligence team members will moderate discussions.
We will cover global protein demand, inputs, fertilizer, and El Niño with meteorologist Sunny Wescott. We have a panel on Brazilian production featuring a Brazilian producer alongside Illinois farmer Ken Dalenberg and Kurt Kucker with Cargill Risk Management. Biofuels will also be front and center with Brett Gibbs. The event concludes with a CME Group Cardinals versus Cubs baseball experience.
Todd Gleason: It sounds fantastic. Mike McGlone from Bloomberg and John Richi from the CME Group will also be there. Interested individuals can go to nobullag.com and look for the AgriNext conference. Regarding ag energies, the president recently changed his mind on a proposed fee to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Looking forward, how problematic will diesel fuel be for farmers this fall?
Susan Stroud: The back-and-forth volatility regarding the Strait is wearing old. Last week, we saw significant single-day moves in heating oil, such as a 36-cent increase one day and a 27-cent increase yesterday. It is a combined issue between the Middle East conflict and Russia implementing export controls while escalating its conflict with Ukraine. We suddenly find ourselves back at $4 futures.
Todd Gleason: The USMCA is also a factor, as Canadian heavy crude crosses into the United States to be distilled into diesel. We might see an early indicator based on European airline fuel shortages.
Susan Stroud: The domino effect in energy markets is notable. While Europe faces a supply crunch, the U.S. has implemented a record-large biofuel mandate. Instead of blending those domestic supplies, we are exporting large volumes to Europe due to price differences and their supply crisis.
Todd Gleason: Finally, can you address the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)?
Susan Stroud: We have been trending toward depletion for years, and we currently find ourselves in a difficult position as the SPR continues to be drawn down.
Todd Gleason: Thank you. I look forward to seeing you at the end of the month. Susan Stroud is with No Bull Ag at nobullag.com.
20:59 Ag Weather with Don Day, Day Weather
Todd Gleason: Up next, we will hear the weather forecast from Don Day in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Don Day: The main story will be the heat, especially across the northern tier of the United States. The Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Great Lakes will be the hottest. The northwest and western Corn Belt will see temperatures well above average. Temperatures will be at or slightly below average across the southern tier and the Desert Southwest.
The high-pressure ridge responsible for this heat will also make conditions dry, with below-average precipitation expected for Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas, Kansas, and eastern Colorado over the next seven days. The southern and eastern Corn Belt will see minor rain amounts. This heat and general dry trend may extend past the 10 to 12-day mark, as the high-pressure ridge will be stubborn to dissolve.
Todd Gleason: Don Day is with Day Weather out of Cheyenne, Wyoming. That concludes this Tuesday edition of the Closing Market Report from Illinois Public Media. You can find it online at willag.org. Tomorrow, I will be at the Orr Agricultural Center in Baylis, Illinois, for agronomy day. I’m Todd Gleason.