USDA Report Drives Corn and Soybean Prices Lower

November soybean futures fell 35.75 cents to 12.9659 dollars per bushel on Friday. The drop followed the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s September World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. Traders sold off positions after seeing production figures that signaled ample supply for the 2026 crop. The decline erased any early buying interest in the market.

Corn futures also closed lower despite a slight reduction in the national yield forecast. December corn ended the session at 5.3025 dollars per bushel, down 3.5 cents. The market reacted negatively to the overall balance sheet, which indicated that domestic and global supplies remain robust. Technical selling pressure dominated the late trading hours.

Corn Yield Data Misses Market Expectations

The USDA lowered the national corn yield estimate to 178.5 bushels per acre. This figure was slightly higher than the average trade expectation of 178.2 bushels. Total production was cut by 213 million bushels to 15.8 billion bushels. Harvested area was reduced to 88.5 million acres. These adjustments failed to support prices because the final numbers still implied sufficient supply.

Ending stocks for the 2025-26 marketing year were lowered to 1.567 billion bushels. This level remains above the trade consensus of 1.528 billion bushels. Feed and residual use estimates were reduced by 150 million bushels. Export projections remained steady at 3.3 billion bushels. The persistent inventory buffer kept a lid on price appreciation.

Soybean Production Approaches Record Levels

Soybean yields were raised by 0.1 bushel to 52.8 bushels per acre. This increase contradicted market expectations for a decline to 52.5 bushels. Total production rose by 16 million bushels to 4.5 billion bushels. The 2026 crop is now positioned near all-time high levels. This surplus outlook weighed heavily on November and January contracts.

Soybean oil futures fell more than 3 percent during the session. Soymeal contracts declined by over 1 percent. The broad weakness across the soy complex reflected trader skepticism about demand growth. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 year finished at 1.841 billion bushels. This figure is 18 percent below the previous year, indicating competitive global supply.

Wheat Contracts Follow Broader Grains Down

Wheat futures mirrored the declines seen in corn and soybeans. December Chicago soft red winter wheat dropped 16 cents to 7.2525 dollars per bushel. December Kansas City hard red winter wheat lost 20.25 cents to 7.9850 dollars. Expanding global inventories contributed to the downward pressure. Technical factors accelerated the selling momentum in the later part of the day.

The report provides critical data for farmers making marketing decisions. Harvest operations are approaching, increasing the urgency for price discovery. Producers face cash flow pressures as they sell into a soft market. The USDA’s September report, cited in coverage by Agrarmärkte (Google News), set the tone for the week’s trading activity.