Not Much Movement in Commodity Markets Now, But Kim Anderson Says Don't Expect it to Continue

Producers have entered a time of the year when crop prices see very limited movement in the markets. During the past three weeks, only wheat has made any relatively notable price moves working up 32 cents from $4.75 to $5.08- although the bulk of that value occurring during one isolated period. The price of corn has moved only within a 7 cent range at an average price of $2.73. Soybean prices were adjusted 31 cents, though that is not considered remarkable from a soybean perspective.

 

Oklahoma State University Extension Grain Market Economist Dr. Kim Anderson spoke to the recent market activity in a recent interview with SUNUP Host Dave Deeken, that will air this weekend. According to him, the inactivity in the markets can be attributed to the fact that the industry has gained a firm handle on the size of the crops globally. However, he says the data does continue to be adjusted as further information comes in.

 

In order to burst this bubble and spark upward movement, Anderson says the more information that comes in that paints a better picture of the available global stocks of these crops will obviously help. In addition, increased export demand for corn and soybeans as well as lower worldwide production, will also help to buoy prices. 

 

As that information comes in and markets take the interim to process it, Anderson advises producers to carefully watch for market signals prompted by Russian crop production as well as US and global production of corn and soybeans- both of which are expected to be very large.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.