Major Field Crop Acres Expected to Decline

U.S. farmland dedicated to major row crops is expected to decline modestly over the next decade, according to projections from the United States Department of Agriculture that are also known as baseline acreage projections. Total planted acreage for eight key crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat, is forecast to fall from 247.6 million acres in 2026-2027 to 241.6 million by 2035-2036. The outlook reflects tightening profit margins as input costs rise and crop prices remain steady to slightly higher. “Overall, the outlook points to a stable-to-softening acreage base dominated by corn and soybeans,” the report notes. Corn acreage is projected to decline steadily after a recent peak, while soybean plantings are expected to rise briefly before tapering off. Wheat acreage is forecast to remain flat at historically lower levels. The projections highlight ongoing economic pressures shaping planting decisions and suggest gradual adjustments rather than dramatic shifts in U.S. crop production.

House Passes the Rural Broadband Protection Act

The NTCA, or The Rural Broadband Association, is applauding congressional passage of the Rural Broadband Protection Act, which aims to strengthen oversight of providers seeking federal broadband funding. The measure, already approved by the Senate, now heads to the president’s desk for final signature. The legislation would require more rigorous vetting of applicants to the Federal Communications Commission’s high-cost Universal Service Fund program, ensuring recipients can deliver reliable service in rural areas. “Rural Americans deserve high-quality broadband access from providers capable of delivering on the promises they make,” said Mike Romano, NTCA CEO. He added that stronger screening of providers is “good public policy and common sense.” NTCA, which represents roughly 850 community-based telecommunications companies, said the bill supports accountable investment and improved connectivity for rural communities, where dependable broadband access remains critical for economic growth and daily life.

Corn Refiners Association Recognizes Workplace Safety Award Winners

The Corn Refiners Association has announced the winners of its 2025 Workplace Safety Awards, recognizing member facilities that achieved outstanding safety performance across the industry. The awards highlight continued progress in worker protection and operational standards within U.S. corn refining. “Corn refining in the U.S. is one of the safest jobs in manufacturing, on par with office work,” said John Bode (BOW-dee), CRA President and CEO. “Today, we celebrate the leaders who have brought our industry to that position.” According to CRA, five companies representing 12 facilities earned 25 awards in 2025, reflecting sustained efforts to reduce incidents and maintain safe working environments. Among the honors, the Incident Rate Excellence Award recognizes plants that achieved exceptionally low incident rates while reporting no lost workdays or fatalities. The association emphasized that these achievements demonstrate the impact of a long-term commitment to safety improvements and reinforce the industry’s focus on protecting workers and supporting local communities.

Larger Wildfires in 2026 Fueled by Drought and Heat

AccuWeather is forecasting a slightly lower number of U.S. wildfires in 2026, but warns that those that ignite could be more intense and destructive. Experts say conditions such as drought, heat, wind, and dry vegetation are increasing the likelihood of fast-spreading fires. “Expanding drought, combined with heat, wind, and dry vegetation, is a dangerous combination,” said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Forecaster. He noted that, similar to the severe 2020 season, fires this year could grow rapidly and become harder to control, while also spreading smoke across large portions of the country. AccuWeather projects 65,000 to 80,000 wildfires nationwide, with 5.5 to 8 million acres burned, potentially exceeding last year’s total. The interior Northwest and Rockies are expected to face the highest risk. “Even if the total number of fires is lower, that does not mean the overall risk is reduced,” Pastelok said, emphasizing growing nationwide concerns.

Letter to USTR Emphasizes the Importance of USMCA

The U.S. Department of Justice is preparing a potential antitrust lawsuit targeting major egg producers over alleged price coordination through an information service called Expana that benchmarks prices for the industry. Sources tell the Wall Street Journal that the civil case could involve companies such as Cal-Maine Foods and Versova, which saw significant price increases in 2024 and 2025 amid supply shortages linked to avian influenza. Investigators are examining whether the competing companies shared pricing data through Expana to influence industry benchmarks. “An egg case would show the Trump administration's eagerness to focus its antitrust powers on food prices,” the Journal reported. While no final decision has been made, the Justice Department could file suit as soon as next month or reach a settlement. The companies maintain that higher prices reflect basic supply and demand dynamics rather than coordinated behavior.

Ethanol Production Hits an 11-Week Low Number

New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, shows U.S. ethanol production declined for the week ending April 17, falling 7.1 percent to an 11-week low of 1.04 million barrels per day. Despite the weekly drop, output remained slightly above both last year’s level and the three-year average. Ethanol inventories increased 0.9 percent to 26.9 million barrels, with notable regional gains along the East and Gulf coasts. At the same time, gasoline demand, a key indicator tied to ethanol use, edged down 0.4 percent and trailed year-ago levels. “Refiner-blender net inputs of ethanol improved 5.3 percent,” the report noted, reaching their highest point since September 2025. Exports also rose sharply, climbing 12.3 percent to 91,000 barrels per day, signaling continued international demand even as domestic consumption shows modest softness.

Thursday Watch List

Markets

USDA will release their Weekly Export Sales report at 7:30 a.m. CDT Thursday morning. Later in the afternoon, USDA will be out with both their weekly and monthly Livestock Slaughter reports at 2 p.m. CDT. Otherwise, news regarding the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran will remain at the forefront of trader focus.

Weather

A big storm system is moving from the Northern Plains into the Canadian Prairies on Thursday, strengthening as it does so. It will push a cold front through the Plains and into the western Midwest that should produce strong-to-severe thunderstorms from eastern Kansas up into Minnesota and Wisconsin. Colder air will also filter south into the Northern Plains.