Zach Abramson

Spring is starting to show up. Snow is disappearing, fields will soon be drying out, and before long many of you will be thinking about getting planters ready. But while the seasons are shifting, the markets are doing something else entirely. They’re getting harder to read. This week Ryan and Jon talked through what they’re seeing right now across grains, energy, and cattle markets. The short version is simple: The markets are moving quickly, several different forces are influencing prices,...

The Least Trusted Bean Rally Soybeans are climbing, and hardly anyone believes in it. Export inspections have been disappointing. Sales are lagging historical benchmarks. The U.S. remains priced above South American supplies. On paper, it’s not the recipe for a sustained rally. And yet here we are. As Jon said this week, “It’s not the most hated soybean rally. It’s the least trusted soybean rally.” That perfectly captures the tone of this market. It’s not outright bearish sentiment fueling...

Markets were reminded this week how quickly sentiment can shift when headlines hit. One announcement was enough to send funds scrambling out of equities and into soybeans, lighting a fire under a market that had been sitting quietly just days earlier. Volatility returned in a hurry, spreads reacted aggressively, and producers were once again forced to answer the same uncomfortable question: do you act now, or do you wait and risk missing it? The Market Dilemma At the heart of this move is a...