News & Resources

Top 5 Things to Watch

17 Nov 2024

OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of Nov. 17. Watch for coverage of these and other topics through the week on our subscription platforms as well as on www.DTNPF.com.

Note that all report release times are Central Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

1. Lame duck watch: A lot of attention is being focused on what may or not get accomplished during a lame duck session of Congress. Many say it's the last hope for a farm bill, which has to find space along with budget extensions and disaster aid, as the incoming administration has a list of accomplishments to drive before the 2026 midterms. Lots of policy clocks are ticking. Watch our Ag Policy blog for the latest, here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

2. Cattle numbers: On Thursday, we'll have a preview of what to expect for the U.S. Cattle on Feed report numbers, then Friday our staff will cover the report when the base numbers are released at 2:30 p.m.; we will follow it up with our analysis soon after.

3. Mixed signals on weather: A trough expected to split into two during the weekend could produce a strong storm system for the Southern Plains. That could push northeast toward Minnesota and Wisconsin early in the week, weakening as it does. Rainfall is likely to be moderate to heavy along the track of the storm, with amounts ranging from 1-3 inches, and likely heaviest across northern Texas into eastern Nebraska. For more, see our Ag Weather Forum blog here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

4. USDA Secretary rumors: Names continue to swirl around a potential Ag Secretary, though at the moment other cabinet position announcements are taking precedence. In 2016-17, the incoming administration held off on an ag choice until just before inauguration.

5. The week's economic reports: Monday at 9 a.m. the latest Home Builder Confidence Index hits. At 10 a.m. we'll have Grain Inspections, then at 3 p.m. the USDA NASS weekly Crop Progress report. Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. we'll get Housing Starts and Building Permits. Wednesday the EIA Weekly Petroleum Index is out at 9:30 a.m., followed by 10:30 a.m. Weekly Economic Index numbers, then 2 p.m. the release of Broiler Hatchery figures. Thursday begins with 7:30 a.m. Grain Export Sales and Initial Jobless Claims reports, Existing Home Sales numbers at 9 a.m. and the 2 p.m. release of Livestock Slaughter figures. Friday at 8:45 a.m. there is the S&P Flash Services PMI and Manufacturing PMI; at 9 a.m. we'll see Consumer Sentiment figures. Ag reports start with 11 a.m. release of Cotton Ginnings, the 2 p.m. Cattle-on-Feed and Chicken and Eggs report. Then at 2:30 p.m. we'll have CFTC's Commitment of Traders report.

Bonus DTN content: In the latest Field Posts podcast, hosted by Sarah Mock, new DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery talks about how the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report knocked down the predicted record crop for both corn and soybeans. He tackles the latest updates on stocks for major grains, and analyzes USDA demand updates (and lack thereof) that contributed to an underwhelming market reaction.

He also digs into the basis picture during this peak harvest window, and tackles the global stocks updates as the world's attention turns to South America. Then, he presents updates on the wheat market at home and abroad, and says what he'll be on the lookout for in the coming weeks and months as the national and global stages continue to be crowded with news.

You can listen to this and other Field Posts podcasts at https://www.dtnpf.com/…and they're also available on podcast hosting sites such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

DTN Farm Business Editor Katie Dehlinger discusses with Reporter's Notebook Host Elaine Shein some of the details on speakers and topics of the upcoming DTN Ag Summit Dec. 5-6. Check it out at https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Watch for the latest news at www.dtnpf.com, and follow and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dtnprogressivefarmer. You can find our news on Instagram as well. Give us a follow @dtn.agnews