News & Resources

Top 5 Things to Watch

19 Jan 2025

OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of Jan. 19. 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. Markets closed and inauguration: Markets will be closed Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our first market commentary update will be early Tuesday morning, with our Early Word Grains and Early Word Livestock commentary available to DTN subscribers. We will still have our Canada markets commentary during the day. The DTN Newsroom is also officially closed, though we will continue to monitor the inauguration and other Washington activities that might affect agriculture.

2. Corn movement increases: Bullish corn export news continues to steady prices, which has led to an uptick of physical corn sales out in the country. We'll continue to track the activity as even with the increase, futures prices remain below USDA's average corn production costs.

3. Winter weather update: The next front moved through the Upper Plains and into the Midwest during the weekend, followed by a slight warmup through the early part of the week. The up/down systems are tough on livestock, especially. For the latest thoughts on winter livestock care, see our recent story by Senior Livestock Editor Jennifer Carrico here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

4. Cattle on Feed Report: Friday is the latest Cattle on Feed and Cold Storage reports, which we'll cover right after their posting. DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart will have her preview of the reports on Thursday.

5. Economic reports to watch: Monday reports are delayed due to Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, although Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) reports will still be released that day. Tuesday at 10 a.m. we see Grain Inspections report, with 2 p.m. release of Chicken and Eggs data. Wednesday at 9 a.m. is the release of U.S. Leading Economic Indicators. At 11 a.m. we'll see Cotton Ginnings data, followed by Broiler Hatchery report at 2 p.m. Then Thursday begins with 7:30 a.m. release of Initial Jobless Claims report, followed by 10:30 a.m. Weekly Economic Index and 2 p.m. Livestock Slaughter data. Friday sees 7:30 a.m. release of Grain Export Sales, then the 8:45 a.m. S&P Flash Services and Manufacturing PMI reports. At 9 a.m. the latest Existing Home Sales and Consumer Sentiment numbers are released. As noted above we'll have the latest Cattle-On-Feed, Cold Storage and Poultry Slaughter numbers, at 2 p.m., followed by DTN analysis shortly after. At 2:30 p.m. the CFTC Commitment of Traders will be released.

DTN bonus content: In our latest Field Posts podcast called "E227: Ringing in the New Year with a Bullish January WASDE," hosted by Sarah Mock, DTN's Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery tackles each of the reports and looks through the changes that surprised market watchers. He goes down the corn and soybean balance sheets, updating everything from planted acres to yield to bring a slightly smaller crop than expected into focus for both these top crops. He then looks at the demand picture, where USDA thinks grains might end up, and how these expectations fit into a global trade picture that could change rapidly in the next few weeks due to the political transition in the United States. Montgomery then turns his attention to the wheat crop, with the latest numbers on seeding, as well as domestic and global stocks, and what to expect as the crop emerges from dormancy.

Another podcast to catch is "E226: 2025 Fertilizer Forecast," where Mock talks to DTN Staff Reporter Russ Quinn about the current fertilizer supply and what that's likely to mean for market conditions going forward. First, Quinn takes a closer look at the potash picture, even as questions about the U.S.'s trade relationships with key exporters like Canada, Russia, and Belarus come into focus. Then he tackles phosphorus, whose more limited supply might cause a wrinkle in planning, due to a combination of a reduction in Chinese exports and a countervailing duties dispute between U.S., Russian, and Moroccan companies. Then Quinn dives into the nitrogen picture with a discussion of natural gas demand and how European winter weather or increasing tensions in the Middle East could disrupt key N prices in the months to come. Finally, he discusses the possible consequences of the new U.S. administration's proposed tariffs, the shifting landscape of global crisis, and whether the Mississippi River is full enough to move fertilizer this spring.

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

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