Closing Market Report

Todd E. Gleason

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

  1. 5d ago

    Jul 15 | Closing Market Report

    The July 15, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report highlights the current agricultural commodity markets and upcoming weather patterns influencing crop production. Host Todd Gleason discusses a recent surge in wheat futures driven by supply fears following Russian military attacks on Ukrainian ports, particularly Odesa, shifting the focus away from traditional weather factors. In the ag market segment, Greg Johnson notes that Central Illinois crops are generally performing well, prompting farmers to hold out for stronger prices, though fund activity remains neutral to long. Additionally, the program details upcoming regional agricultural events, including University of Illinois Extension field days and webinars focused on soybean breeding and agricultural AI applications. The second half of the program transitions to regional and international ag weather with Drew Lerner from World Weather Inc.. Lerner breaks down the stressful but manageable heat impacts across the northern Corn Belt, noting that while the upper Missouri River Basin faces high temperatures and dryness, areas like the Red River Valley are insulated by recent heavy rainfall. The international segment details a severe and expanding drought in Western Europe, where central France and the UK face massive precipitation deficits threatening summer crops like sugar beets. Conversely, weather conditions remain favorable for crop maturation in the Black Sea region, making the current market volatility strictly a reflection of regional war developments rather than climate failures. 01:21 Ag Markets with Greg Johnson, Total Grain Marketing 11:59 Ag Weather with Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc. ★ Support this podcast ★

  2. Jul 13

    Jul 13 | Closing Market Report

    The July 13, 2026, edition of the Closing Market Report covered critical updates in domestic agricultural production, global energy markets, and shifting weather patterns impacting the U.S. corn belt. Curt Kimmel of AgMarket.net analyzed the day's sharp rise in crude oil and grain futures, tying the market's upward momentum to localized heat stress in the western corn belt, declining crop condition ratings, and sudden escalations in Middle East war tensions. Expanding on these geopolitical developments, North Dakota State University Extension Economist Frayne Olson discussed the severe impact of a newly announced U.S. military escort fee for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, alongside the logistics disruption caused by Ukrainian drone attacks near the Sea of Azov. Olson noted that while these conflicts introduce a supportive risk premium for U.S. grain exports, their long-term effects will primarily filter through volatile international energy markets. Finally, meteorologist Mark Russo of EverStream Analytics provided a near-term weather outlook, reporting that while threatening pollination heat will temporarily persist in the northwest Midwest, a retrogressing ridge of high pressure will bring cooler temperatures by the weekend. However, Russo warned that an impending shift toward a suppressed, northwest flow jet stream pattern could signal a prolonged dry spell moving into critical pod-development stages for soybeans in early August. 01:11 Ag Markets with Curt Kimmel, AgMarket.net06:53 Commodity Market Discussion with Frayne Olson, NDSU18:46 Ag Weather with Mark Russo, EverStream Analytics ★ Support this podcast ★

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

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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