The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s quarterly grain stocks estimates revised the 2018 soybean production down by 116 million bushels from the previous estimate and reduced the nation’s average yield by one bushel to 50.6 bushels per acre. Planted area was 89.2 million acres, and harvested area was revised to 87.6 million acres from 88.1 million.

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Increasing trade with other countries is important to U.S. farmers. “Trade is the No. 1 issue I hear in the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Labor is the No. 2 issue, and regulation is No. 3.” Perdue traveled to Wisconsin to attend the opening day of the World Dairy Expo.

“I hear about trade because it is important,” he said. “Isn’t it wonderful to be in a country that’s so blessed that we have to depend on foreign markets because of productivity rather than being food dependent like we were on oil at one point in time.”

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In the weeks ahead, as I sit in my combine watching the harvest fill up grain cart after grain cart, I’m sure I’ll wonder at times where my soybeans will find a home and who will use them. Considering this year’s challenges, I’m sure these concerns may be on the minds of other growers, too. There’s no debate that the soybean market caused a few headaches and sleepless nights the past few months. Between turbulent trade talks and less than ideal weather, this growing season has been a rollercoaster ride. Even with the highs and lows this year, I’m optimistic about where the market is headed and how it will benefit Illinois growers.

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