GOOD MORNING,

Commodities and equities saw a nice rebound to start the night.  All posted gains at the start of the trading session, including soyoil.  Gains in soyoil outpaced meal, as has been the case backing oilshare, while wheat prices traded higher as well maintaining recent gains for all three contracts.  Prices continue to chop around in wide trading ranges, and have to wonder where the ag prices would have been yesterday were it not for a $5.50 drop in crude and a 900 pt drop in equities.  The overhang into the Ag space impacted soyoil futures the most but crude and soyoil are higher. 

Demand remains a focus and China's pull on the markets may return this fall, particularly for corn given the failure of the crop in Brazil.  Monday's export inspections did not help the bean cause, though season -to-date exports are near 2,123 mln bu vs. 1,408 mln bu year ago.  Season- to -date corn exports are near 2,368 mln bu vs. 1,437 mln bu year ago.   Wheat inspections were higher than expected. 

Grains will see higher prices as the weather calls for continuing dryness across the Dakotas and Minnesota which accounts for an estimated 20% of corn acres.  As noted in crop progress numbers, Minnesota was the state featuring some of the largest declines for corn and beans. 

STORIES

Argentina's soyoil exports are forecast to rise, driving down prices internationally, due to a new law cutting the amount of soyoil-based biodiesel blended into common diesel fuel sold domestically, industry officials reported.  Argentina's lawmakers approved a measure allowing a reduction in the amount of soy-based biodiesel to be mixed into domestically-consumed biodiesel. 

WEATHER

Weather continues to feature a mostly dry and warm outlook which will add to crop stress on areas that missed out a week ago.  Eastern Midwest areas will look to improve, needing a bit of warmer and sunnier weather.  Forecasts for the next two weeks are concerning for the balance of July into August with below normal rains and above normal temps in the west, PNW, north and into Canada.  Delta and eastern Corn Belt areas remain good. Gist of the weather is supportive.

REPORTS 

Crop Progress

Corn:  65% good/excellent, unchanged and vs. expectations of a small improvement.  Dough:  8% vs. 7% average, Silking:  56% vs. 55% year ago.  Texas had the largest decline down 10% G/E.  Illinois and Kansas improved 4-5% but Ohio and North Dakota ratings were down 4%. 

Beans:  60% good/excellent, improving 1% vs. 69% year ago.  Blooming: 63%, setting pods:  23%.  Illinois and Kansas saw the best improvement, while Ohio and Minnesota ratings dropped.  

Spring Wheat:  11% good/excellent vs. 16% week ago, Headed:  92% vs. 92% average.  The crop ratings at 11% good/excellent is the worst since the crop year in 1988 when the crop was rated 7% good/excellent in July

Winter Wheat:  73% harvested vs. 73% year ago and 74% average

ANNOUNCEMENTS

China's bean imports from Brazil were lower in June vs. year ago on poor crushing margins which weighed on demand, as reported by customs data.  China purchased 10.48 mmt of beans from Brazil, down from 10.51 mmt prev. year.  The numbers are still 14% higher from 9.23 mmt in May, as demand continues to be supported by the recovering pig herd.  China imported 54,806 tons of beans from the US in June, down 80% from 267,553 tons year ago.

Japan's use of corn in animal feed fell to 47.8% in May vs. 49.3% year ago, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture.  

Brazil's AgRural reported that Brazil's farmers harvested around 30% of the Safrinha crop in the center-south through July l5.

CALLS

Calls are as follows:

beans:  18-22 higher

meal:  4.80-5.20 higher

soyoil:  70-80 pts higher

corn:  11-12 higher

wheat:  13-15 higher

OUTSIDE MARKETS

Firmer crude oil market which trades up to $67.40/barrel, and a firmer US dollar at 93.09.  Equities are 200 pts higher.  

TECH TALK

• The break yesterday in Nov beans back to $13.70, (courtesy of weak macros), allowed us to see the trading range in this market, which does appear to be from $13.70- to $14.23.  The comeback over $13.80 is impressive, and in the big picture the price action is sideways to higher with pullbacks of size holding with bounces.  Think we probably approach $14.30 again in time given the positive construct of the chart, and if we take out $14.23 the next target is $14.50.  
• December meal prices are congesting from $355.00 to $375.00, and continue to pivot around $365.00.  In the process, more lines of support are also forming and if needing to price would do so along trendline support.  A series of higher lows suggests the market could firm back up to reach its previous recent high of $375.00.  
• December soyoil placed a new high at 6634c before breaking hard yesterday with its pullback to 6220c.  Prices have recovered nicely today as we partially retrace the large break.   Would still own pullbacks here as the major direction is higher, and the market had posted a new high for the move up before the hard break.  Could be long against 6350c with the ability to target 65c quite easily.   
• The December corn chart finally shows some strength testing and keeping the $5.50 level intact with trade back to previous highs at $5.65 to $5.68.  The ability to trade back towards the high yesterday and towards gap-fill at $5.73 1/2 is positive, and today therefore shows the best promise of follow-through strength to the upside.  Look for a pullback in Dec. corn at $5.55 to find good support.  
• December wheat continues to trade to new highs above $7.00 at $7.36 3/4.  The market would not weaken with all the others yesterday, which was a foreshadowing of higher prices to come.  Look for prices to continue to find strength and target $7.35 which is first technical resistance.  Support for Dec. wheat moves up to $7.10.

SEPTEMBER BEANS

The market may be in a trading range from $13.50 to $14.50, with peaks located at $14.30.  However, in the big picture the pullbacks are repeatedly shallower which is allowing for the major trend to still remain sideways to higher.  The 100-day moving average and trendline now cross at $13.50, offering strong support should we go there.  However, at this point think the weakness yesterday with the pullback to $13.81 probably marked a low, and the chart price direction could exit the triangle formed to the upside rather than downside.  Look to continue to own breaks, as the chart is more positive than negative, though the ADX at 18 continues to point to a continuing struggle on rallies and breaks.  

TAGS – Feed Grains, Soy & Oilseeds, Wheat, North America