Grain markets have been jumpy this week and the latest weather forecasts will continue to be closely watched. USDA's weekly export sales report is due out at 7:30 a.m. CDT Friday, along with the Labor Department's nonfarm payrolls and U.S. unemployment reports. It has been over a week since USDA had an export sales announcement and traders will pause at 8 a.m. to see if USDA can break the silent streak.
Weather
Temperatures will continue to build well above normal across the northern tier of the U.S. with triple-digit readings indicated for the Dakotas on Friday. Scattered showers will be mostly confined to the East and Gulf Coasts today but there will be a risk of severe storms over the far Northern Plains and into the Canadian Prairies late in the day and overnight. These showers will only be isolated and the heat that exists in the region will worsen drought stress.