Market Trends Report – June & July 2026

US and the World

It is that time of year again when we’re in the homestretch hurtling toward most critical crop development time of the year. Often times, seasonality tells us that some of the best prices for new crop are had in mid-June and early July. This is the time when the crop can go through difficult times during the growing season. However, so far things look pretty good. US corn planting was 97% complete as of June 8th with soybeans coming in at 92%. 66% of the US corn crop looked good to excellent as of June 8th about four points less than last year’s 71%. USDA estimated that 65% of soybeans that had emerged were in good to excellent condition. It is a long road; the USDA released their latest report on June the 11th.

The USDA made few changes in their June WASDE report. It is sticking with their estimate of 15.995 billion bushels of corn based on an average yield of 183 bushels per acre which will put us at the second largest corn crop ever after last year. Acreage remains the same at 95.3 million acres. Total domestic use for US corn is forecast at 13.055 billion bushels with corn exports projected now would be 3.15 billion bushels. New crop ending corn ending stocks are set to come in at 1.96 billion bushels. Old crop corn ending stocks also were bumped up sitting at 2.145 billion bushels. Brazilian and Argentinian corn production was also raised to 138 MMT and 43 MMT respectively.

On the soybean side of the equation the USDA made no changes from last month’s report. We are still looking at 4.435 billion bushels of soybeans at a trend line estimate of 53 bushels per acre and 84.7 million acres. If this comes to fruition, it’ll be the second largest soybean crop in U.S. history. One telling statistics from the USDA report was the US winter wheat production which was cut from 1.048 billion bushels to 1.029 billion bushels. This will mean that is the smallest US winter wheat crop since 1965.

On June 12th corn, soybeans and wheat were lower than the last Market Trends report. July 2026 corn futures was at $4.12 a bushel. Dec 2026 corn was at $4.40 bu. The July 2026 soybean futures was at $11.13 bu. The November 2026 soybean futures were at $11.13. The July 2026 wheat futures closed at $5.84 a bushel. The Minneapolis July 2026 wheat futures closed at $6.18 a bushel with the September 2026 contract closing at $6.42 a bushel.

The nearby oil futures as of June 12th, 2026, closed at $84.88/barrel much lower vs the nearby futures recorded in the last Market Trends report of $105.42/barrel. The average price for US ethanol in the US was $2.18/gallon, lower vs the $2.22/gallon recorded in the last Market Trends Report.

The Canadian dollar noon rate on June 12th, 2026, was .7155 US, down vs the .7272 US reported here in the last Market Trends report. The Bank of Canada’s lending rate remained at 2.25%.

Ontario

A long stretch of good weather his certainly been good for planting progress across Ontario. For the most part both corn and soybeans have been planted as of June the 13th. Rainfall has been in short supply which is added planting progress. There is some uneven emergence in heavier soils but the big issue going into later June is moisture. The crop will need that to give it a head start on what could be a very hot Month of July.

Winter wheat continues to march toward harvest time. It has benefited from some ideal temperatures earlier in June and later in May. Lots of fungicide application is apparent as you drive by Ontario wheat fields. As it stands now we’re looking at 1.17 million acres of wheat, 2.89 million acres of soybeans and 2.32 million acres of corn in Ontario this spring.

Basis levels have actually been maintained versus the last Market Trends report partly because the Canadian dollar is lower at .7155 US. This has mitigated the price decline regarding basis as futures have declined significantly. With the Canadian dollar showing weakness old crop corn basis is actually increased slightly while the soybean basis has maintained where it was.

Old crop corn basis levels are $1.50 to $2.22 over the July 2026 corn futures on June 12th across the province. New crop corn basis levels were $1.20 to $1.60 over Dec 2026 futures. The old crop basis levels for soybeans range from $3.40 to $4.15 over the July 2026 futures. New crop soybeans range from $3.30 to $3.60 over the November 2026 futures. Ontario SRW wheat prices are approximately $7.04. For July 2026 new crop the bid is in the $7.00/bu range. On June 12th the US replacement price for corn was $6.26/bushel. You can access all these Ontario grain prices in the marketing section at https://gfo.ca/daily-commodity-report/

The Bottom Line

There has been a huge move down in grain futures prices, so aggressive you got to wonder the reason why? Although the vagaries of trading algorithms can be complex at times in retrospect this is pretty obvious. The funds had held huge, long positions most of the spring in grains and they bailed out over the last several weeks. Part of the reason for this is because of the improved crop weather and the progress of the crop. It also had to do with following the energy markets.

The war in Iran has had a lot to do with this. Initially there was a price spike in oil, which reached $105 a barrel in mid-May. Grains tended to follow this pattern and funds were using it as somewhat of a hedge. However, as ceasefires grew longer, the trading algorithms sent energy prices down currently at $84 a barrel. As of June 14th, there is a permanent settlement supposedly in the works, which could soften up the energy markets even more. Grain prices have fallen in concert.

Keep in mind that much of this market volatility has to do with geopolitics but also something different in 2026. Trading algorithms are dialed into what the President of the United States says on social media and this becomes trading behavior the next day. It is also being affected by predictive markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, where you can bet on just about anything. In many ways, is just another form of demand, something that is very difficult to measure.

That new reality is still grounded in grain fundamentals even though at times it’s very hard to see. For instance, we have been given pretty good opportunities to price grain over the last several months before the funds left. This new predictive supercharged speculation giveth and taketh away. It surely will continue.

Commodity Specific Comments

Corn

Old crop corn is just a long story now having lost easily $0.60 over the last 30 days. Keep in mind despite what the algorithms our trading at the crop is not made in May and June, it’s usually July and August.

That’s when new crop is made but we can’t ignore what has happened to new crop prices. Your December futures were trading just at $5 a bushel just over a month ago and of course it’s down now to lows we seen last October. Will we get back to that $5 level? It seems unlikely now but of course if hot and dry hits in July there is precedent for that.

The July 2026 corn contract is currently priced at 8 cents lower than the September 2026 contract a bearish indication of old crop corn demand. Seasonally, we know that corn prices tend to peak in early June and bottom out in early October. The July 2026 corn futures contract is at the 6th percentile of the past five-year price distribution range.

Soybeans

Believe it or not soybeans don’t like wet feet and in some parts of the American growing area that’s exactly what they have. It is a completely different scenario than what we have here in Ontario. However, as we all know it’s usually August weather that determines soybean yield and high temperatures and sunshine can eliminate those wet feet very quickly. Needless to say, it is a reminder that weather will continue to dominate the health of this crop.

The energy markets have also had an effect on the soybean market but less so than in corn partly because of the strength in soybean oil. The soybean oil market has also retreated in concert with oil but not as much as might be expected given the dynamism of that market. The US policy toward biodiesel is really helping.

The July 2026 soybean contract is currently priced 5.25 cents below the August contract considered bearish for old crop soybean demand. Seasonally, soybean prices tend to peak in early July and bottom out in early October. The July 2026 soybean contract is currently at the 20th percentile of the past five-year price distribution range.

Wheat

The wheat market has broken hard over the last 30 days and in many ways, it doesn’t quite add up. We’re looking at the smallest American winter wheat crop since 1965 with crop conditions in Nebraska and Kansas very poor. As per usual there is wheat everywhere in the world except maybe in the United States with potential getting less and less. Despite that, the funds have exited large parts of the agricultural commodity market and the wheat was not immune from that.

In Ontario producers have seen approximately a dollar decrease in the price of new crop wheat over the last month, a bitter pill but still much higher than a year ago. Despite the bearishness in wheat the Ontario crop does look good going into July and producers will be hoping for good quality. That would put Ontario producers at a great advantage especially with the Americans having the smallest crop in 60 years.

The Bottom Line (cont.)

The Canadian dollar has been weaker based on a number of reasons but there has been a call from the American President regarding the 51st state once again. Anytime that that happens it usually drives down the Canadian dollar and this time was no exception. Also too, we have slipped into a technical recession having a couple quarters of negative economic growth. Some of this has come from the tariff effect from the United States on manufacturing in Ontario. As it is, the Canadian dollar is usually in an inverse relationship with the US dollar. However, the Canadian economy needs a boost or at least a boost of good economic news to take the loonie higher.

Basis values for Ontario grains will be largely dependent on the crop that we get this year. At the present time, all things look good except for maybe some dryness in southwestern Ontario. We need to remember last year eastern Ontario had continual drought and that it resulted in much better cash basis values this past winter and spring. Any such production calamity in Ontario would produce the same type of thing next year. Of course, the value of the Canadian dollar will always impact basis levels especially for soybeans and wheat.

What is it going to take to rally these grain markets? Well, bad weather on the other guys farm is usually what does it with regard to reducing overall yield. However, the weather is always a wild card, and it will continue to be. Keep in mind another wild card in this might be China who has been very limited in any American buying but has made some vague buying commitments. If the Chinese were to come along and buy 25 million bushels of soybeans in a year like this one which has projected carry out of 310 million bushels, that would shake up this market. Keep in mind, markets go both ways and at the present time we’re at the bottom of a pretty tough four-week time frame.

Grain surpluses are building. For instance, USDA recently increased their outlook for Brazilian corn production to be a new record at 138 MMT. Argentina is looking at record corn as well and we know the Americans are looking at their second biggest crop ever. One thing that means is Ontario producers will be challenged to find their profitable niche in this vastly bigger grain world. However, that’s partly what risk management is for, finding profitability amid challenging circumstances. What it will take will be daily market intelligence. There will be many marketing opportunities ahead.