Corn Shooting Higher on Monday Morning

Corn prices shot higher at the Sunday night open in response to the Pro Farmer yield projection, up 12 to 13 cents so far on Monday morning. Futures found late strength on Friday with contracts 2 ¾ to 6 ½ cents higher across the board. Open interest was down 12,307 contracts, but heavily influenced by a 32,494 drop in the September contracts. September was 24 ¾ cents higher on the week, with December rallying 25 ¼ cents.  The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was up 5 cents at $4.52 ½.

Following last week’s Crop Tour, Pro Farmer estimates the US national yield at 173.2 pba, with production at 15.344 bbu.

Weekly CFTC data tallied managed money spec traders in corn futures and options at a net long of 250,505 contracts by 8/18. That was a 83,735 contracts increase on the week, coming from a mix of new length and shorts covering.

USDA Export Sales data from Thursday now has old crop corn commitments at 87.74 MMT, which is 24% above last year. That is also 102% of the USDA projection and matching the pace from last year. Accumulated sales for new crop are now at 11.391 MMT, which lags last year by 21.7%. That is still the 4^th largest forward book since 2000.

Agrural estimates the 2025/26 second corn crop at 92% harvested as of Thursday, still lagging the 98% average. The first corn crop for 2026/27 was estimated at 2% planted, slipping behind the 3.2% pace from last year. 

Sep 26 Corn  closed at $4.83 3/4, up 5 cents, currently up 12 1/4 cents

Nearby Cash  was $4.55, up 5 cents,

Dec 26 Corn  closed at $5.08 1/2, up 5 cents, currently up 13 cents

Mar 27 Corn  closed at $5.23 1/2, up 5 1/4 cents, currently up 12 3/4 cents

New Crop Cash  was $4.59 7/8, up 5 cents,