Richard

[Richard @R1charrd]

12 days until Illini football

[Karen Braun @kannbwx]

🌽 Pro Farmer projects U.S. corn yield at 173.2 bpa, well below USDA’s 180.7.

PF corn yield has now come in below USDA in 16 of the last 20 Augusts.

The 7.5-bushel PF-USDA shortfall is the largest for August in at least 20 years.

[Karen Braun @kannbwx]

Scouts on #pftour26 found Illinois corn yield down nearly 8% on the year, the tour's lowest Illinois yield since 2019. USDA projects the state's yield to fall just 1% yr/yr.

Soybean pod counts were down more than 3%, though USDA sees soybean yield up 7% from last year.

[Richard @R1charrd]

15 days until Illini football

[Karen Braun @kannbwx]

Five stops in west central Iowa with an average corn yield of 187 bu/acre, down 18% from these same five stops last year. Problems include low ear counts and shorter grain length.

Soybeans are disappointing. Only 1131 pods per 3'x3' plot, down 33% from last year. #pftour26

[Karen Braun @kannbwx]

Stops 6-10 in southeast South Dakota on #pftour26

Average corn yield 150 bu/acre vs 172 on these same five stops last year. Evidence of pollination issues. Ears are short. Soil is dry.

Soybean pod counts average 1087 in a 3'x3' plot vs 1358 thru this stretch in 2025.

[*Walter Bloomberg @DeItaone]

U.S. HOUSING MARKET TILTS HARD TO BUYERS

U.S. homebuyer demand hit a record low in July, with just 967,000 buyers versus 1.46M sellers—a 51% seller surplus.

Nearly 80% of major metros are now buyer’s markets, giving house hunters greater negotiating power.

Miami leads with 154% more sellers than buyers, followed by Nashville and several Texas metros.

High mortgage rates, elevated prices and economic uncertainty are keeping buyers on the sidelines.

[Ryan L. Griess @Cornbroker21]

USDA WASDE Report Snapshot 8-12-2026

[Heather Long @byHeatherLong]

Good to hear new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh say the 2% inflation target remains firmly in place.

"There is no soft inflation target. There is no soft implicit target, not on this committee’s watch. There’s only a target, and it’s 2%," Warsh says.

[Heather Long @byHeatherLong]

The bond market is flashing a warning sign.
Pay attention.

The 30-year yield has been above 5% for the longest stretch since 2007.
The 10-year yield is at one of the highest levels in recent years. Borrowing costs are high for the US gov't -- and consumers.

Normally President Trump pulls back when bond yields start to jump. He did it on tariffs last spring. He did it this spring (temporarily) on Iran. But will it happen again?

[Richard @R1charrd]

Sold!

[Richard @R1charrd]

For sale: 2022 Chevy Silverado High Country, 53k miles, 4x4, non-smoker, highway miles. Morton, IL
Direct message me

[Richard @R1charrd]

Has anyone used the Luba 3 AWD or Segway 450X robotic mowers?

Real-world experiences? Would love to hear pros/cons before I pull the trigger.

[Heather Long @byHeatherLong]

Why are Americans so frustrated by grocery prices?

It's simple:
A) Prices rose a lot in recent years (over 25% in past 5 yrs)
B) Grocery prices barely moved in the 2014-2019 years. Relatively speaking, the past few years are a BIG shock for Americans.

Good chart from @econJaredB on historical grocery price growth vs. wages.

[Adam Crafton @AdamCrafton_]

BREAKING @TheAthleticFC

Folarin Balogun will be available to play the USMNT’s round of 16 match against Belgium with his one-game red-card ban suspended. Extraordinary development.

Story with @Dan_Sheldon_

https://t.co/oQ61J9btzT

[Ryan L. Griess @Cornbroker21]

USDA Acreage and Quarterly Stocks Report Snapshot
6-30-2026

[Reuters Ag News @ReutersAg]

Trump seeks additional $11 billion in farm aid https://t.co/iF5TSFd0IW

[The Kobeissi Letter @KobeissiLetter]

BREAKING: President Trump says Iran has informed the US that there are no tolls, insurance costs, or other charges being "sought or received by Iran" on ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also says he will be releasing Iranian funds to US farmers and ranchers.

"Food is desperately needed in Iran, and we will be purchasing it for them exclusively from the United States," Trump says.

[National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) @Nopa_Oilseed]

Yesterday in Gilman, IL: NOPA joined Incobrasa for the ribbon cutting of their $250M soybean processing expansion — 98M bushels, 7,000 family farms, 15% of IL soybeans.

Soybean oil for food and biomass-based diesel feedstock. Soybean meal for livestock rations. Jobs, tax revenue, and stable markets for farmers.

EPA's record RVOs under the RFS helped make this investment happen.

[National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) @Nopa_Oilseed]

NOPA team is on the ground today to celebrate Incobrasa’s ribbon cutting. This expansion, 3 years in the making, highlights the critical role soybean crush has in supporting rural economies and driving the future of American grown biofuels.

[Heather Long @byHeatherLong]

Big 1st press conference for Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. The top takeaways:

1) He will tame inflation. "[We] will deliver on price stability"
2) Market now pricing in 1 rate hike for 2026 and rising chance of 2.
3) The Warsh Fed will say less. Short statements. No forward guidance.
4) He's launching 5 tasks forces that are similar to what consulting firms do...look at what Fed doing and make recommendations for change.
Stay tuned: Big change is coming in 2027