Midday Movers

Here's what's moving the markets so far today.

Prices as of 10:00 AM CT (about 10 min delayed) · change vs. yesterday's close

• Corn (Dec): $4.59¾/bu, down 3½¢ (-0.76%)
  • Why: Corn market under pressure as futures soften and Black Sea supply weighs. Wheat (-0.92%) was lower too, so the selling was across the grain market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 4.59½–4.66½ · Week: down 18¼¢ (-3.82%)
• Soybeans (Nov): $12.52/bu, up 6¾¢ (+0.54%)
  • Why: Soybean Market Overview: Record US Crop Meets Strong Export Demand. It went against corn (-0.76%) and wheat (-0.92%), which were lower. It's trading near the high of the day.
  • Today's range: 12.42¼–12.53 · Week: down 11¢ (-0.87%)
• Wheat (Dec): $6.22½/bu, down 5¾¢ (-0.92%)
  • Why: U.S. wheat futures sink to 14-week lows on Ukraine peace efforts. Kc wheat (-0.74%) and corn (-0.76%) were lower too, so the selling was across the grain market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 6.22¼–6.31 · Week: down 47½¢ (-7.09%)
• KC Wheat (Dec): $6.68/bu, down 5¢ (-0.74%)
  • Why: No single news story drove KC wheat lower today. Wheat (-0.92%) and corn (-0.76%) were lower too, so the selling was across the grain market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 6.67¾–6.75¾ · Week: down 45¢ (-6.31%)
• Live Cattle (Dec): $230.60/cwt, down $0.525 (-0.23%)
  • Why: No single news story drove live cattle lower today. Feeder cattle (-0.54%) and hogs (-0.49%) were lower too, so the selling was across the livestock market.
  • Today's range: 229.475–231.00 · Week: up $3.35 (+1.47%)
• Feeder Cattle (Nov): $346.925/cwt, down $1.90 (-0.54%)
  • Why: No single news story drove feeder cattle lower today. Live cattle (-0.23%) were lower too, so the selling was across the livestock market.
  • Today's range: 346.225–348.575 · Week: up $4.975 (+1.45%)
• Lean Hogs (Dec): $65.40/cwt, down $0.325 (-0.49%)
  • Why: No single news story drove hogs lower today. Live cattle (-0.23%) were lower too, so the selling was across the livestock market.
  • Today's range: 65.05–65.90 · Week: down $1.175 (-1.76%)
• Class III Milk (Nov): $17.54/cwt, up $0.06 (+0.34%)
  • Why: US Milk Prices Face Margin Squeeze As Feed Costs Rally And Beef Values Soften.
  • Today's range: 17.26–17.61 · Week: up $0.29 (+1.68%)
• Class IV Milk (Nov): $20.83/cwt, unch.
  • Why: Class IV milk was steady; in the news: US Milk Prices Face Margin Squeeze As Feed Costs Rally And Beef Values Soften.
  • Week: up $0.33 (+1.61%)
• Cheese (Nov): $1.643/lb, up $0.002 (+0.12%)
  • Why: No single news story drove cheese higher today. Class iii milk (+0.34%) was higher too, so the buying was across the dairy market. It's trading near the high of the day.
  • Today's range: 1.622–1.647 · Week: up $0.02 (+1.23%)
• Butter (Nov): 140.00¢/lb, unch.
  • Why: Butter was steady; in the news: US Butter Undercuts EU by Over €1,000/t as Exports Surge Worldwide.
  • Today's range: 139.00–140.50 · Week: up 2¢ (+1.45%)
• Crude Oil (Dec): $98.39/bbl, up $1.24 (+1.28%)
  • Why: Oil Futures End Mixed as Traders Weigh Supply Recovery Against Shipping Risks. Diesel (+2.25%) was higher too, so the buying was across the energy market.
  • Today's range: 97.72–100.09 · Week: up $1.89 (+1.96%)
• Heating Oil (Nov): $4.8703/gal, up 10.7¢ (+2.25%)
  • Why: US Diesel Refining Economics Remain Firm Despite Iran War Truce. Crude oil (+1.28%) was higher too, so the buying was across the energy market.
  • Today's range: 4.7879–4.9268 · Week: up 2.47¢ (+0.51%)
• Natural Gas (Nov): $2.821/MMBtu, up $0.031 (+1.11%)
  • Why: US Has More Natural Gas Than It Can Use as War Chokes Global Supply. It's trading near the high of the day.
  • Today's range: 2.726–2.826 · Week: down $0.415 (-12.82%)
• Gold (Dec): $4,077.50/oz, down $72.50 (-1.75%)
  • Why: Gold and silver prices continue to decline in commodity markets. Silver (-3.80%) was lower too, so the selling was across the metals market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 4,059.70–4,164.30 · Week: down $92.60 (-2.22%)
• Silver (Dec): $55.515/oz, down $2.195 (-3.80%)
  • Why: Gold and silver prices continue to decline in commodity markets. Gold (-1.75%) was lower too, so the selling was across the metals market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 55.08–58.105 · Week: down $1.64 (-2.87%)
• Copper (Dec): $6.4250/lb, down 15.45¢ (-2.35%)
  • Why: Copper Prices Slide to 5-Week Low. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 6.3890–6.5845 · Week: down 13.15¢ (-2.01%)

Yesterday's official settlements

The 2:00 report goes out before the exchange posts settlements. Today's changes are figured from these official numbers.

• Corn (Dec) settled at $4.63¼/bu (Wed), not the $4.64¼/bu last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Soybeans (Nov) settled at $12.45¼/bu (Wed), not the $12.46¼/bu last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• KC Wheat (Dec) settled at $6.73/bu (Mon), not the $7.07/bu last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Live Cattle (Dec) settled at $231.125/cwt (Wed), not the $231.05/cwt last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Feeder Cattle (Nov) settled at $348.825/cwt (Wed), not the $348.95/cwt last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Lean Hogs (Dec) settled at $65.725/cwt (Wed), not the $65.75/cwt last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Class III Milk (Nov) settled at $17.48/cwt (Mon), not the $17.42/cwt last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Class IV Milk (Nov) settled at $20.83/cwt (Mon), not the $21.00/cwt last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Cheese (Nov) settled at $1.641/lb (Mon), not the $1.631/lb last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Butter (Nov) settled at 140.00¢/lb (Mon), not the 140.25¢/lb last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Crude Oil (Dec) settled at $97.15/bbl (Wed), not the $97.61/bbl last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Heating Oil (Nov) settled at $4.7633/gal (Wed), not the $4.7920/gal last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Natural Gas (Nov) settled at $2.790/MMBtu (Wed), not the $2.785/MMBtu last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Gold (Dec) settled at $4,150.00/oz (Wed), not the $4,147.30/oz last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Silver (Dec) settled at $57.71/oz (Wed), not the $57.66/oz last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Copper (Dec) settled at $6.5795/lb (Wed), not the $6.5705/lb last trade in that day's 2:00 report.

U.S. Drought Monitor (out this morning)

51% of the lower 48 is in drought, down from 54% last week and 46% a year ago. Corn Belt in drought: IA 0%, IL 24%, NE 43%, MN 63%, IN 0%. Most in drought among farm states: OK 89%, TX 70%, MN 63%.

By state, and the forecast for your ZIP

Livestock price insurance (USDA LRP, prices for Oct 21)

• Feeder steers 600-1,000 lb, ending Jan 20: 95% coverage at $328.57/cwt costs you about $3.65/cwt after the USDA subsidy (up $0.13 from last week; coverage price down $23.24 from a year ago).
• Fed cattle, ending Jan 20: 95% coverage at $222.20/cwt costs you about $2.25/cwt after the USDA subsidy (up $0.04 from last week; coverage price down $6.60 from a year ago).
• Hogs, ending Jan 20: 95% coverage at $63.73/cwt costs you about $1.44/cwt after the USDA subsidy (down $0.02 from last week; coverage price down $16.25 from a year ago).
• USDA updated the Mexico cattle border status. USDA is implementing a phased reopening of the U.S.

LRP calculator and screwworm border status

China soybean buying (USDA export sales, week ending Oct 15)

• China has bought 19.3 million tons of U.S. soybeans so far in 2026, 77% of the 25 million tons it pledged for the year (5.7 million tons to go with 11 weeks left).
• That compares with 3.7 million tons by this time last year and 14.9 million tons on average the last 5 years.
• Week ending Oct 15: net sales of 2,179 thousand tons, 1,334 thousand tons shipped.
• 2026/27 crop sold to China so far: 13.4 million tons vs 4.0 million tons at this point last year.

China purchases vs the 25 million ton pledge

On deck

• Today: USDA grain transportation data (barge, rail, ocean), 12:00pm CT

Informational only — not investment, trading or financial advice. Prices may be delayed.