US Crop Conditions & Market Positioning
USDA NASS · US Drought Monitor · CFTC Disaggregated Commitments of Traders
Week of June 26, 2026 Corn · Soybeans · Winter Wheat
Full report: conditions, progress, drought & COT
Grain Outlook | US — June 26, 2026 Data through: COT: Jun 26, 2026 · USDA: Jun 26, 2026 Source: SoftSignal Research | https://reports.getsoftsignal.com/2026/grain_outlook_f039556f.html MANAGED MONEY POSITIONING: Corn -69,691 cts 31th pct moderately short Soybeans +36,679 cts 42th pct neutral SRW Wheat (Chicago) -71,206 cts 31th pct moderately short HRW Wheat (Chicago) -1,285 cts 46th pct neutral
Grain Outlook | US — Weekly
Crop conditions rated as % Good + Excellent (national) · Drought coverage by key belt states · COT managed money percentile vs. full history (2010–present)
Corn
USDA NASS · US Drought Monitor · CFTC Disaggregated COT · Full in-season report
Corn Conditions
68%
% Good + Excellent · 2026-06-21
Corn Stress
6% Low
% Very Poor + Poor · 2026-06-21 -1pp vs 5yr avg
Corn Belt Drought
11.8%
D2+ Severe drought coverage · 2026-06-23
Corn COT Positioning
Moderately Short
MM net percentile · 2026-06-23
31th pct

Crop Stress & Abandonment Risk

% Very Poor + Poor from USDA NASS weekly Crop Progress. Values above 40% (dashed line) correlate with elevated abandonment risk for winter wheat and replant / yield-drag pressure for corn and soybeans. Current year shown in red; prior years muted.

Crop Conditions & Progress

USDA NASS weekly crop condition ratings. % Good + Excellent is the headline figure watched by traders. Values above 60% (green) signal favorable conditions; below 40% (red) indicates significant crop stress.

USDA NASS weekly planting progress (% of intended acres planted). Pace relative to prior years signals planting delays or acceleration.

Belt Drought Monitor

Average drought coverage across Corn Belt states (IA, IL, IN, MN, NE, OH, SD, WI, ND, MO). D2+ (Severe/Extreme/Exceptional) coverage ≥ 30% of the belt is historically significant for yield.

Corn Belt drought monitor coverage by week
DateD0+ (%)D2+ (%)D3+ (%)D4 (%)
2025-07-0138.91.80.00.0
2025-07-0838.01.70.00.0
2025-07-1530.91.10.00.0
2025-07-2224.11.00.00.0
2025-07-2920.20.80.00.0
2025-08-0519.50.30.00.0
2025-08-1221.30.30.00.0
2025-08-1921.20.30.00.0
2025-08-2625.60.20.00.0
2025-09-0241.40.20.00.0
2025-09-0943.92.50.00.0
2025-09-1650.47.10.50.0
2025-09-2347.77.90.50.0
2025-09-3054.18.20.50.0
2025-10-0763.610.91.30.0
2025-10-1461.712.32.20.0
2025-10-2161.28.51.90.0
2025-10-2860.810.22.10.0
2025-11-0458.49.71.70.0
2025-11-1156.99.31.70.0
2025-11-1862.111.01.90.0
2025-11-2560.39.21.90.0
2025-12-0259.97.61.80.0
2025-12-0960.47.71.80.0
2025-12-1660.07.61.80.0
2025-12-2361.07.71.80.0
2025-12-3062.36.51.80.0
2026-01-0665.19.72.30.0
2026-01-1357.39.42.30.0
2026-01-2058.59.92.40.0
2026-01-2759.29.92.40.0
2026-02-0359.510.02.40.0
2026-02-1062.612.62.60.0
2026-02-1763.313.23.70.0
2026-02-2464.614.23.80.0
2026-03-0371.315.84.40.0
2026-03-1063.912.73.10.0
2026-03-1755.413.93.10.0
2026-03-2455.114.83.10.0
2026-03-3155.216.05.30.0
2026-04-0744.013.44.50.0
2026-04-1438.413.26.00.0
2026-04-2130.913.27.30.0
2026-04-2826.112.67.10.2
2026-05-0526.412.67.40.4
2026-05-1231.613.08.21.0
2026-05-1935.012.87.90.9
2026-05-2642.612.97.40.8
2026-06-0255.011.76.60.9
2026-06-0952.511.96.30.6
2026-06-1647.012.06.30.7
2026-06-2344.611.85.70.7

D2+ (Severe + Extreme + Exceptional) drought coverage by week of year. Overlapping years allow comparison of current drought intensity vs. historical patterns.

Corn Belt D2+ drought coverage by week
Date2026 (%)2025 (%)2024 (%)
Jan 019.713.018.3
Jan 089.413.017.6
Jan 159.913.012.8
Jan 229.911.912.1
Jan 2910.012.510.4
Feb 0512.612.710.3
Feb 1213.212.710.3
Feb 1914.212.510.5
Feb 2615.912.910.5
Mar 0512.712.711.2
Mar 1213.912.511.0
Mar 1914.814.410.9
Mar 2616.013.86.6
Apr 0213.410.16.5
Apr 0913.210.36.7
Apr 1613.210.66.0
Apr 2312.66.85.8
Apr 3012.67.54.6
May 0713.09.72.2
May 1412.87.51.9
May 2112.96.10.0
May 2811.74.30.0
Jun 0411.93.10.0
Jun 1112.02.60.0
Jun 1811.82.50.0

COT Positioning

Corn Futures
CFTC Code 002602 · COT data through 2026-06-23
420.50 ¢/bu
MM Net Position
-69,691
Managed money long minus short
31th pct
MM Gross Long
293,420 cts
Managed money gross long contracts
72th pct
MM Gross Short
363,111 cts
Managed money gross short contracts
89th pct
MM Week-over-Week
-23,264
Change in managed money net
Open Interest
2,639,787 cts
Total open interest (all participants)
99th pct
Commercial Net
+83,747
Prod/merchant + swap dealer net
76th pct
Managed money is Moderately Short (31th percentile) relative to the full history of this market. Managed money reduced 23,264 net contracts week-over-week. Commercial hedgers hold a net long position of 83,747 contracts. Open interest is at an elevated level historically (99th percentile).

Managed money (hedge funds & CTAs) net long position by week of year, overlapping across all available years.

Corn managed money net position by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-16.4253.3-197.3
Jan 13-81.8292.2-230.7
Jan 20-81.3311.7-260.5
Jan 27-72.0350.7-265.3
Feb 03-68.8364.2-280.2
Feb 10-48.2332.4-297.7
Feb 17-27.4353.5-314.3
Feb 24-13.9337.5-340.7
Mar 0353.0219.8-295.3
Mar 10193.3146.5-296.8
Mar 17228.8107.3-255.9
Mar 24284.574.6-243.0
Mar 31268.056.8-251.7
Apr 07218.653.6-259.6
Apr 14159.5124.6-263.6
Apr 21184.4112.8-279.6
Apr 28264.171.3-238.5
May 05343.913.9-218.0
May 12299.5-85.0-102.5
May 19293.4-103.2-71.2
May 26205.5-100.8-121.2
Jun 02115.1-154.0-133.5
Jun 09-5.3-164.0-212.7
Jun 16-46.4-184.8-212.3
Jun 23-69.7-182.3-191.5

Commercial hedger net position. Commercials are structurally short (forward sellers); a move toward net long is historically bullish.

Corn commercial net position by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-7.2-217.5198.4
Jan 1378.8-244.9217.7
Jan 2090.3-286.6264.1
Jan 2771.0-324.7262.9
Feb 0373.9-340.7267.7
Feb 1062.5-304.7272.1
Feb 1756.9-331.9290.4
Feb 2439.8-312.4306.8
Mar 03-32.3-227.6269.9
Mar 10-177.1-160.9261.0
Mar 17-217.9-119.5213.9
Mar 24-277.3-73.4197.1
Mar 31-237.1-46.9213.7
Apr 07-188.9-54.4219.9
Apr 14-147.2-128.4224.9
Apr 21-158.9-96.7242.6
Apr 28-237.7-75.8199.7
May 05-325.8-10.1184.0
May 12-216.885.276.0
May 19-250.797.757.5
May 26-181.9115.797.4
Jun 02-47.9170.5113.6
Jun 0934.1171.1193.5
Jun 1653.6187.1180.1
Jun 2383.7183.1158.3

Managed money gross long contracts by week of year. Elevated gross longs signal crowded positioning and potential liquidation pressure if sentiment shifts.

Corn managed money gross long by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06220.5367.3162.4
Jan 13198.4393.2157.7
Jan 20206.4415.6155.3
Jan 27216.9447.2158.2
Feb 03214.9447.9162.2
Feb 10216.4417.8168.8
Feb 17214.2428.0174.8
Feb 24223.2415.8164.4
Mar 03247.5311.6174.4
Mar 10334.6258.6173.8
Mar 17344.2240.2177.1
Mar 24363.9230.7171.1
Mar 31354.4213.5174.1
Apr 07316.3213.6170.4
Apr 14301.8250.3158.5
Apr 21329.1269.0161.6
Apr 28379.3254.2170.2
May 05441.2218.3176.0
May 12420.7173.1202.1
May 19426.6175.9218.6
May 26368.1174.1208.0
Jun 02304.9163.5213.9
Jun 09277.4169.1204.2
Jun 16279.6153.8207.8
Jun 23293.4165.7218.9

Managed money gross short contracts by week of year. Elevated gross shorts represent potential short-covering fuel — a catalyst can force rapid buybacks and amplify a rally.

Corn managed money gross short by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06236.9114.0359.7
Jan 13280.2100.9388.4
Jan 20287.8103.9415.8
Jan 27288.996.5423.5
Feb 03283.783.7442.4
Feb 10264.685.4466.6
Feb 17241.674.5489.2
Feb 24237.178.4505.1
Mar 03194.591.9469.7
Mar 10141.4112.0470.6
Mar 17115.4133.0433.0
Mar 2479.3156.1414.1
Mar 3186.4156.8425.9
Apr 0797.6160.0430.0
Apr 14142.4125.7422.0
Apr 21144.7156.2441.1
Apr 28115.2182.9408.8
May 0597.3204.4394.1
May 12121.2258.1304.7
May 19133.3279.1289.8
May 26162.6274.9329.1
Jun 02189.8317.6347.4
Jun 09282.7333.1416.9
Jun 16326.1338.6420.0
Jun 23363.1348.0410.3

Total open interest. Rising OI with a directional move confirms trend; falling OI suggests position liquidation.

Corn total open interest by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 061,915.52,132.61,601.3
Jan 132,035.72,372.01,713.9
Jan 202,088.32,534.21,852.3
Jan 272,092.62,513.61,958.2
Feb 032,142.12,618.91,963.8
Feb 102,158.22,602.51,996.0
Feb 172,204.02,693.22,038.8
Feb 241,995.92,360.32,053.9
Mar 032,018.32,355.11,896.4
Mar 102,219.52,368.61,914.6
Mar 172,322.02,372.11,961.4
Mar 242,395.82,346.11,999.1
Mar 312,367.02,470.02,017.8
Apr 072,350.22,415.72,056.5
Apr 142,357.62,326.61,999.9
Apr 212,380.72,317.31,966.2
Apr 282,330.61,999.41,969.4
May 052,515.62,020.81,805.7
May 122,533.12,081.41,895.1
May 192,562.32,153.51,973.8
May 262,433.02,115.81,993.4
Jun 022,454.82,125.81,963.8
Jun 092,566.22,099.12,067.1
Jun 162,661.92,078.62,057.5
Jun 232,639.81,881.62,048.6

Nearby futures price (ZC=F). Price shown for context; COT positioning is the primary signal.

Deferred crop-year net positions by trader category (CFTC 'Other' crop-year split: contract months beyond the current crop year, futures and options combined). Teal = managed money deferred net. Gold = swap dealer deferred net. Red = producer/commercial deferred net (forward hedging of new-crop supply). White dotted = SPRT percentile rank — share of OI concentrated in deferred crop years. Elevated concentration + reversing MM positioning signals structural conditions for amplified price moves.

Soybeans
USDA NASS · US Drought Monitor · CFTC Disaggregated COT · Full in-season report
Soybeans Conditions
66%
% Good + Excellent · 2026-06-21
Soybeans Stress
6% Low
% Very Poor + Poor · 2026-06-21 -2pp vs 5yr avg
Soybeans Belt Drought
16.5%
D2+ Severe drought coverage · 2026-06-23
Soybeans COT Positioning
Neutral
MM net percentile · 2026-06-23
42th pct

Crop Stress & Abandonment Risk

% Very Poor + Poor from USDA NASS weekly Crop Progress. Values above 40% (dashed line) correlate with elevated abandonment risk for winter wheat and replant / yield-drag pressure for corn and soybeans. Current year shown in red; prior years muted.

Crop Conditions & Progress

USDA NASS weekly crop condition ratings. % Good + Excellent is the headline figure watched by traders. Values above 60% (green) signal favorable conditions; below 40% (red) indicates significant crop stress.

USDA NASS weekly planting progress (% of intended acres planted). Pace relative to prior years signals planting delays or acceleration.

Belt Drought Monitor

Average drought coverage across Soybeans Belt states (IA, IL, IN, MN, NE, OH, SD, ND, MO, KS, MI, AR). D2+ (Severe/Extreme/Exceptional) coverage ≥ 30% of the belt is historically significant for yield.

Soybeans Belt drought monitor coverage by week
DateD0+ (%)D2+ (%)D3+ (%)D4 (%)
2025-07-0139.01.80.00.0
2025-07-0838.41.70.00.0
2025-07-1532.81.30.00.0
2025-07-2226.51.10.00.0
2025-07-2921.50.90.00.0
2025-08-0520.90.50.00.0
2025-08-1223.20.40.00.0
2025-08-1923.40.30.00.0
2025-08-2627.60.30.00.0
2025-09-0242.10.30.00.0
2025-09-0944.32.40.00.0
2025-09-1652.57.00.50.0
2025-09-2349.97.70.50.0
2025-09-3052.98.20.40.0
2025-10-0758.810.71.10.0
2025-10-1458.212.02.00.0
2025-10-2158.18.31.70.0
2025-10-2856.59.91.90.0
2025-11-0454.19.31.50.0
2025-11-1152.29.01.60.0
2025-11-1855.59.61.70.0
2025-11-2554.17.31.70.0
2025-12-0253.95.81.60.0
2025-12-0954.65.91.70.0
2025-12-1654.35.91.70.0
2025-12-2355.26.01.70.0
2025-12-3056.24.81.60.0
2026-01-0658.97.72.10.0
2026-01-1351.28.22.10.0
2026-01-2052.18.82.10.0
2026-01-2752.68.82.10.0
2026-02-0353.38.92.20.0
2026-02-1057.011.22.30.0
2026-02-1757.411.83.40.0
2026-02-2458.812.93.40.0
2026-03-0365.214.64.00.0
2026-03-1061.316.75.40.2
2026-03-1757.117.45.30.2
2026-03-2458.218.85.70.3
2026-03-3159.021.79.50.7
2026-04-0751.219.29.00.7
2026-04-1445.819.710.61.1
2026-04-2139.721.111.91.1
2026-04-2835.820.710.81.0
2026-05-0536.121.011.61.4
2026-05-1240.621.312.42.3
2026-05-1943.121.012.92.3
2026-05-2646.321.111.82.0
2026-06-0252.318.69.41.3
2026-06-0949.918.17.91.0
2026-06-1646.518.08.01.1
2026-06-2343.916.56.31.1

D2+ (Severe + Extreme + Exceptional) drought coverage by week of year. Overlapping years allow comparison of current drought intensity vs. historical patterns.

Soybeans Belt D2+ drought coverage by week
Date2026 (%)2025 (%)2024 (%)
Jan 017.713.517.0
Jan 088.213.516.1
Jan 158.813.511.9
Jan 228.811.710.3
Jan 298.912.28.7
Feb 0511.212.48.4
Feb 1211.812.38.3
Feb 1912.913.48.5
Feb 2614.613.78.5
Mar 0516.713.49.0
Mar 1217.513.48.8
Mar 1918.814.38.7
Mar 2621.713.16.0
Apr 0219.29.55.8
Apr 0919.79.76.0
Apr 1621.19.85.9
Apr 2320.76.66.7
Apr 3021.07.46.6
May 0721.39.14.5
May 1421.07.04.5
May 2121.15.72.4
May 2818.64.12.5
Jun 0418.03.01.4
Jun 1118.02.60.8
Jun 1816.52.50.8

COT Positioning

Soybeans Futures
CFTC Code 005602 · COT data through 2026-06-23
1,155.00 ¢/bu
MM Net Position
+36,679
Managed money long minus short
42th pct
MM Gross Long
136,821 cts
Managed money gross long contracts
66th pct
MM Gross Short
100,142 cts
Managed money gross short contracts
75th pct
MM Week-over-Week
-16,139
Change in managed money net
Open Interest
1,277,543 cts
Total open interest (all participants)
97th pct
Commercial Net
-13,069
Prod/merchant + swap dealer net
61th pct
Managed money is Neutral (42th percentile) relative to the full history of this market. Managed money reduced 16,139 net contracts week-over-week. Commercial hedgers hold a net short position of 13,069 contracts. Open interest is at an elevated level historically (97th percentile).

Managed money (hedge funds & CTAs) net long position by week of year, overlapping across all available years.

Soybeans managed money net position by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 0657.7-28.6-11.6
Jan 1313.034.8-31.2
Jan 2010.140.3-76.8
Jan 2717.356.5-91.8
Feb 0328.857.0-108.2
Feb 10123.128.5-130.3
Feb 17163.616.5-134.5
Feb 24184.28.2-136.7
Mar 03198.9-35.5-160.7
Mar 10222.1-15.5-172.0
Mar 17202.0-22.0-155.1
Mar 24197.9-43.0-148.3
Mar 31213.4-29.8-134.8
Apr 07189.6-50.4-138.3
Apr 14175.226.2-139.3
Apr 21192.931.1-167.9
Apr 28185.338.2-149.0
May 05221.621.9-149.2
May 12214.838.4-41.5
May 19207.812.7-42.7
May 26189.636.7-26.4
Jun 02156.18.6-14.2
Jun 0990.825.6-59.7
Jun 1652.859.2-75.9
Jun 2336.723.4-106.0

Commercial hedger net position. Commercials are structurally short (forward sellers); a move toward net long is historically bullish.

Soybeans commercial net position by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-82.261.531.8
Jan 13-31.80.551.7
Jan 20-26.0-5.2112.4
Jan 27-33.9-16.7122.8
Feb 03-40.1-23.2152.0
Feb 10-116.69.3167.7
Feb 17-153.824.5166.5
Feb 24-166.037.8166.6
Mar 03-176.467.2195.6
Mar 10-190.743.7205.5
Mar 17-177.043.3185.2
Mar 24-164.354.8173.5
Mar 31-179.433.0155.2
Apr 07-156.957.0162.1
Apr 14-151.3-25.1164.4
Apr 21-169.0-28.7190.6
Apr 28-163.7-37.3166.9
May 05-206.0-27.2165.0
May 12-191.4-55.871.0
May 19-180.1-31.580.0
May 26-171.1-55.258.8
Jun 02-139.4-20.348.4
Jun 09-70.4-44.091.9
Jun 16-34.8-72.1102.6
Jun 23-13.1-32.9125.3

Managed money gross long contracts by week of year. Elevated gross longs signal crowded positioning and potential liquidation pressure if sentiment shifts.

Soybeans managed money gross long by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06121.6107.269.8
Jan 13106.9125.364.4
Jan 2099.1130.253.8
Jan 27106.2135.048.0
Feb 03121.6130.342.5
Feb 10166.9118.244.4
Feb 17200.8112.949.0
Feb 24217.5110.151.6
Mar 03239.493.948.2
Mar 10255.195.352.5
Mar 17235.290.556.3
Mar 24226.982.356.2
Mar 31239.081.758.7
Apr 07224.776.457.4
Apr 14207.4108.154.1
Apr 21217.6120.045.1
Apr 28207.4117.647.2
May 05248.9109.652.0
May 12241.9123.279.6
May 19239.0110.969.3
May 26231.0125.273.1
Jun 02218.4115.680.9
Jun 09173.0123.672.5
Jun 16152.7138.371.5
Jun 23136.8124.565.9

Managed money gross short contracts by week of year. Elevated gross shorts represent potential short-covering fuel — a catalyst can force rapid buybacks and amplify a rally.

Soybeans managed money gross short by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 0663.9135.881.4
Jan 1393.990.495.6
Jan 2089.089.9130.6
Jan 2788.878.5139.8
Feb 0392.773.2150.8
Feb 1043.889.7174.7
Feb 1737.296.4183.5
Feb 2433.3101.9188.3
Mar 0340.5129.4208.9
Mar 1033.0110.9224.5
Mar 1733.2112.5211.4
Mar 2428.9125.2204.5
Mar 3125.6111.6193.5
Apr 0735.1126.9195.7
Apr 1432.381.9193.4
Apr 2124.789.0213.0
Apr 2822.179.4196.3
May 0527.387.7201.2
May 1227.084.8121.0
May 1931.198.3112.0
May 2641.588.599.5
Jun 0262.4107.095.1
Jun 0982.398.0132.2
Jun 1699.979.1147.4
Jun 23100.1101.1171.8

Total open interest. Rising OI with a directional move confirms trend; falling OI suggests position liquidation.

Soybeans total open interest by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06961.91,013.3789.5
Jan 131,018.81,051.7833.6
Jan 201,038.41,113.0874.5
Jan 271,047.71,083.5931.4
Feb 031,084.81,131.7956.2
Feb 101,207.21,131.9991.4
Feb 171,281.11,128.41,005.2
Feb 241,190.5997.81,037.6
Mar 031,241.11,024.1922.2
Mar 101,306.21,014.0927.9
Mar 171,286.11,038.1951.8
Mar 241,255.11,044.0995.0
Mar 311,239.71,064.11,022.7
Apr 071,263.31,128.11,054.8
Apr 141,271.01,063.41,064.9
Apr 211,256.91,069.61,126.8
Apr 281,096.4950.11,057.4
May 051,193.0986.9911.2
May 121,236.81,047.8954.3
May 191,288.11,066.9966.1
May 261,251.81,052.31,006.1
Jun 021,293.11,073.51,007.5
Jun 091,283.61,038.31,074.4
Jun 161,305.51,040.61,056.6
Jun 231,277.5988.61,067.1

Nearby futures price (ZS=F). Price shown for context; COT positioning is the primary signal.

Deferred crop-year net positions by trader category (CFTC 'Other' crop-year split: contract months beyond the current crop year, futures and options combined). Teal = managed money deferred net. Gold = swap dealer deferred net. Red = producer/commercial deferred net (forward hedging of new-crop supply). White dotted = SPRT percentile rank — share of OI concentrated in deferred crop years. Elevated concentration + reversing MM positioning signals structural conditions for amplified price moves.

Winter Wheat
USDA NASS · US Drought Monitor · CFTC COT (SRW — Chicago & HRW — Chicago) · Full in-season report
Winter Wheat Conditions
26%
% Good + Excellent · 2026-06-21
Winter Wheat Stress
46% Critical
% Very Poor + Poor · 2026-06-21 +21pp vs 5yr avg
SRW Belt Drought
3.1%
D2+ Severe drought coverage · 2026-06-23
HRW Belt Drought
43.1%
D2+ Severe drought coverage · 2026-06-23
SRW COT Positioning
Moderately Short
MM net percentile · 2026-06-23
31th pct
HRW COT Positioning
Neutral
MM net percentile · 2026-06-23
46th pct

Crop Stress & Abandonment Risk

% Very Poor + Poor from USDA NASS weekly Crop Progress. Values above 40% (dashed line) correlate with elevated abandonment risk for winter wheat and replant / yield-drag pressure for corn and soybeans. Current year shown in red; prior years muted.

Current-week % Very Poor + Poor by HRW belt state. KS and OK together represent ~50% of US HRW production. Dashed line at 40% = elevated abandonment threshold.

National Crop Conditions & Progress

USDA NASS weekly crop condition ratings. % Good + Excellent is the headline figure watched by traders. Values above 60% (green) signal favorable conditions; below 40% (red) indicates significant crop stress.

USDA NASS weekly fall planting progress. Pace relative to prior years signals early or delayed establishment entering winter.

USDA NASS weekly crop heading progress. Pace of heading relative to prior years reflects crop development speed and informs harvest timing expectations.

Belt Drought Monitor

Average drought coverage across SRW Belt states (OH, IN, IL, MI, MO, KY). D2+ (Severe/Extreme/Exceptional) coverage ≥ 30% of the belt is historically significant for yield.

SRW Belt drought monitor coverage by week
DateD0+ (%)D2+ (%)D3+ (%)D4 (%)
2025-07-0116.60.20.00.0
2025-07-0820.90.50.00.0
2025-07-1520.70.20.00.0
2025-07-2214.60.30.00.0
2025-07-2911.50.10.00.0
2025-08-0512.80.20.00.0
2025-08-1221.40.20.00.0
2025-08-1931.00.10.00.0
2025-08-2647.90.10.00.0
2025-09-0274.00.30.00.0
2025-09-0974.84.50.00.0
2025-09-1687.216.11.10.0
2025-09-2387.917.71.50.0
2025-09-3087.416.00.80.0
2025-10-0787.619.62.10.0
2025-10-1476.421.93.60.0
2025-10-2171.015.23.10.0
2025-10-2865.517.93.60.0
2025-11-0459.616.62.80.0
2025-11-1155.215.92.80.0
2025-11-1856.516.53.10.0
2025-11-2551.812.73.10.0
2025-12-0252.710.03.00.0
2025-12-0953.510.13.10.0
2025-12-1657.810.03.10.0
2025-12-2358.99.93.10.0
2025-12-3062.77.92.90.0
2026-01-0667.011.73.80.0
2026-01-1361.812.63.80.0
2026-01-2063.013.33.90.0
2026-01-2759.713.33.90.0
2026-02-0359.413.54.00.0
2026-02-1059.917.44.00.0
2026-02-1757.117.45.50.0
2026-02-2457.218.05.50.0
2026-03-0365.118.06.40.0
2026-03-1053.211.93.60.0
2026-03-1743.68.72.40.0
2026-03-2444.56.41.10.0
2026-03-3152.14.50.50.0
2026-04-0739.04.30.10.0
2026-04-1438.26.31.60.0
2026-04-2129.88.03.00.0
2026-04-2823.610.73.50.0
2026-05-0523.010.73.50.0
2026-05-1225.611.24.20.0
2026-05-1929.514.87.60.1
2026-05-2627.811.91.30.0
2026-06-0232.84.81.00.0
2026-06-0930.84.50.80.0
2026-06-1620.94.31.40.0
2026-06-2318.23.10.70.0

D2+ (Severe + Extreme + Exceptional) drought coverage by week of year. Overlapping years allow comparison of current drought intensity vs. historical patterns.

SRW Belt D2+ drought coverage by week
Date2026 (%)2025 (%)2024 (%)
Jan 0111.73.114.6
Jan 0812.63.114.1
Jan 1513.33.13.0
Jan 2213.31.52.5
Jan 2913.51.50.2
Feb 0517.41.50.2
Feb 1217.41.50.2
Feb 1918.03.60.5
Feb 2618.04.20.5
Mar 0511.94.01.5
Mar 128.74.11.2
Mar 196.42.71.3
Mar 264.51.51.0
Apr 024.30.21.0
Apr 096.30.21.5
Apr 168.00.20.8
Apr 2310.70.21.1
Apr 3010.70.20.5
May 0711.20.20.2
May 1414.80.20.2
May 2111.90.20.0
May 284.80.30.0
Jun 044.50.20.0
Jun 114.30.20.0
Jun 183.10.20.0

Average drought coverage across HRW Belt states (KS, OK, TX, CO, NE, SD). D2+ (Severe/Extreme/Exceptional) coverage ≥ 30% of the belt is historically significant for yield.

HRW Belt drought monitor coverage by week
DateD0+ (%)D2+ (%)D3+ (%)D4 (%)
2025-07-0147.910.43.61.0
2025-07-0843.88.82.80.7
2025-07-1539.29.42.90.7
2025-07-2236.89.02.80.1
2025-07-2932.48.83.00.1
2025-08-0530.78.34.10.1
2025-08-1232.79.24.11.3
2025-08-1936.99.55.51.2
2025-08-2635.19.35.41.2
2025-09-0235.28.84.80.1
2025-09-0937.58.74.60.1
2025-09-1640.78.23.10.1
2025-09-2335.98.03.10.1
2025-09-3037.58.22.90.1
2025-10-0743.98.03.00.1
2025-10-1449.45.31.00.1
2025-10-2150.75.81.20.1
2025-10-2846.95.40.80.0
2025-11-0450.26.30.90.0
2025-11-1152.58.11.20.0
2025-11-1856.58.91.80.0
2025-11-2556.38.21.80.0
2025-12-0254.67.91.60.1
2025-12-0955.47.81.50.1
2025-12-1654.67.82.10.1
2025-12-2360.18.82.50.1
2025-12-3064.69.02.80.1
2026-01-0668.512.33.40.2
2026-01-1363.113.14.40.2
2026-01-2064.314.55.10.2
2026-01-2765.515.14.80.2
2026-02-0369.416.95.30.2
2026-02-1073.819.36.40.2
2026-02-1774.420.66.70.2
2026-02-2476.623.47.50.4
2026-03-0380.529.98.10.7
2026-03-1080.330.19.10.7
2026-03-1783.536.710.50.7
2026-03-2487.347.515.61.7
2026-03-3192.156.227.14.4
2026-04-0792.454.824.24.0
2026-04-1488.758.726.13.9
2026-04-2187.757.728.93.9
2026-04-2886.757.229.83.5
2026-05-0586.856.230.63.8
2026-05-1288.355.430.44.8
2026-05-1989.253.930.33.8
2026-05-2689.253.129.14.0
2026-06-0285.747.925.84.7
2026-06-0981.844.022.13.8
2026-06-1679.243.722.03.9
2026-06-2376.043.121.24.0

D2+ (Severe + Extreme + Exceptional) drought coverage by week of year. Overlapping years allow comparison of current drought intensity vs. historical patterns.

HRW Belt D2+ drought coverage by week
Date2026 (%)2025 (%)2024 (%)
Jan 0112.319.811.3
Jan 0813.120.29.2
Jan 1514.520.18.6
Jan 2215.018.56.5
Jan 2916.919.86.1
Feb 0519.220.25.3
Feb 1220.619.64.5
Feb 1923.420.34.5
Feb 2629.921.14.5
Mar 0530.121.14.5
Mar 1236.725.24.6
Mar 1947.529.24.0
Mar 2656.228.83.0
Apr 0254.823.22.9
Apr 0958.724.12.9
Apr 1657.722.54.4
Apr 2357.319.17.0
Apr 3056.219.49.1
May 0755.421.68.2
May 1453.919.98.8
May 2153.117.57.6
May 2847.915.07.9
Jun 0443.912.55.0
Jun 1143.711.83.9
Jun 1843.212.03.7

COT Positioning — SRW (Chicago)

SRW Wheat (Chicago) Futures
CFTC Code 001602 · COT data through 2026-06-23
588.75 ¢/bu
MM Net Position
-71,206
Managed money long minus short
31th pct
MM Gross Long
66,844 cts
Managed money gross long contracts
23th pct
MM Gross Short
138,050 cts
Managed money gross short contracts
64th pct
MM Week-over-Week
-1,674
Change in managed money net
Open Interest
534,792 cts
Total open interest (all participants)
58th pct
Commercial Net
+59,912
Prod/merchant + swap dealer net
68th pct
Managed money is Moderately Short (31th percentile) relative to the full history of this market. Managed money reduced 1,674 net contracts week-over-week. Commercial hedgers hold a net long position of 59,912 contracts. Open interest is near historical average levels (58th percentile).

Managed money (hedge funds & CTAs) net long position by week of year, overlapping across all available years.

SRW Wheat (Chicago) managed money net position by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-107.2-88.6-60.3
Jan 13-106.2-94.4-58.0
Jan 20-110.7-91.8-68.6
Jan 27-94.7-110.8-64.5
Feb 03-81.8-90.4-64.8
Feb 10-85.7-82.8-66.7
Feb 17-68.0-61.6-55.7
Feb 24-17.3-67.6-68.5
Mar 03-25.8-82.4-56.3
Mar 10-22.3-77.4-65.5
Mar 17-12.7-80.7-78.9
Mar 24-2.2-92.6-80.6
Mar 318.6-112.0-92.1
Apr 07-5.6-102.1-91.9
Apr 14-7.3-96.4-86.6
Apr 21-10.7-89.9-96.4
Apr 2810.7-121.4-76.2
May 05-9.9-113.7-47.9
May 12-19.0-126.9-42.4
May 19-4.8-108.9-28.3
May 26-18.7-101.2-24.6
Jun 02-57.9-100.6-25.4
Jun 09-79.4-94.0-31.7
Jun 16-69.5-81.4-45.1
Jun 23-71.2-64.7-52.7

Commercial hedger net position. Commercials are structurally short (forward sellers); a move toward net long is historically bullish.

SRW Wheat (Chicago) commercial net position by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 0686.781.544.5
Jan 1385.884.547.1
Jan 2091.779.756.3
Jan 2779.598.152.8
Feb 0370.980.946.0
Feb 1074.373.245.3
Feb 1760.261.235.0
Feb 2420.873.650.6
Mar 0326.688.540.1
Mar 1027.686.448.6
Mar 1725.282.757.9
Mar 2419.488.960.6
Mar 318.7102.464.2
Apr 0719.994.862.4
Apr 1416.490.255.6
Apr 2123.390.366.3
Apr 28-0.4114.653.1
May 0511.0107.535.3
May 1218.4119.232.6
May 193.8105.821.6
May 269.499.328.7
Jun 0244.599.125.4
Jun 0964.795.229.5
Jun 1660.089.838.0
Jun 2359.975.246.7

Managed money gross long contracts by week of year. Elevated gross longs signal crowded positioning and potential liquidation pressure if sentiment shifts.

SRW Wheat (Chicago) managed money gross long by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 0692.086.469.8
Jan 1391.385.170.3
Jan 2087.583.273.5
Jan 2787.777.071.2
Feb 0388.274.773.1
Feb 1088.976.375.1
Feb 1785.570.879.3
Feb 24104.870.580.9
Mar 0394.177.385.0
Mar 1096.077.989.3
Mar 17100.875.077.4
Mar 24109.773.880.7
Mar 31117.469.578.0
Apr 07109.471.780.2
Apr 14102.369.477.9
Apr 2195.275.976.5
Apr 28106.272.379.2
May 0599.577.478.4
May 12100.880.277.8
May 19110.783.883.4
May 26107.975.483.8
Jun 0281.975.181.7
Jun 0965.072.579.0
Jun 1668.671.462.8
Jun 2366.871.958.7

Managed money gross short contracts by week of year. Elevated gross shorts represent potential short-covering fuel — a catalyst can force rapid buybacks and amplify a rally.

SRW Wheat (Chicago) managed money gross short by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06199.1175.0130.1
Jan 13197.5179.5128.3
Jan 20198.2175.0142.1
Jan 27182.5187.8135.8
Feb 03170.0165.1138.0
Feb 10174.6159.1141.9
Feb 17153.5132.3135.0
Feb 24122.1138.1149.4
Mar 03119.9159.7141.3
Mar 10118.4155.4154.8
Mar 17113.5155.6156.3
Mar 24111.9166.3161.3
Mar 31108.7181.6170.1
Apr 07115.0173.8172.2
Apr 14109.6165.9164.5
Apr 21105.9165.9172.9
Apr 2895.5193.8155.3
May 05109.4191.1126.2
May 12119.8207.1120.1
May 19115.5192.7111.7
May 26126.6176.6108.4
Jun 02139.7175.6107.1
Jun 09144.4166.5110.7
Jun 16138.1152.7107.9
Jun 23138.1136.6111.4

Total open interest. Rising OI with a directional move confirms trend; falling OI suggests position liquidation.

SRW Wheat (Chicago) total open interest by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06561.4556.2416.1
Jan 13576.8571.4427.3
Jan 20585.0582.5458.5
Jan 27597.3598.2467.6
Feb 03612.0599.2459.2
Feb 10590.5568.5469.3
Feb 17544.1576.4448.4
Feb 24516.2482.3455.3
Mar 03515.1526.9415.0
Mar 10562.2533.2451.8
Mar 17580.8548.7451.4
Mar 24595.8546.9477.6
Mar 31593.4584.2465.0
Apr 07605.8572.1471.1
Apr 14565.3558.9457.3
Apr 21557.3547.9449.4
Apr 28520.9511.5453.3
May 05540.5525.5423.6
May 12586.7554.3448.7
May 19608.9549.6492.0
May 26584.3534.8515.1
Jun 02580.4534.3516.1
Jun 09562.6506.3517.6
Jun 16554.1488.4489.8
Jun 23534.8425.4504.8

Nearby futures price (ZW=F). Price shown for context; COT positioning is the primary signal.

Deferred crop-year net positions by trader category (CFTC 'Other' crop-year split: contract months beyond the current crop year, futures and options combined). Teal = managed money deferred net. Gold = swap dealer deferred net. Red = producer/commercial deferred net (forward hedging of new-crop supply). White dotted = SPRT percentile rank — share of OI concentrated in deferred crop years. Elevated concentration + reversing MM positioning signals structural conditions for amplified price moves.

COT Positioning — HRW (Chicago)

HRW Wheat (Chicago) Futures
CFTC Code 001612 · COT data through 2026-06-23
619.00 ¢/bu
MM Net Position
-1,285
Managed money long minus short
46th pct
MM Gross Long
56,485 cts
Managed money gross long contracts
66th pct
MM Gross Short
57,770 cts
Managed money gross short contracts
59th pct
MM Week-over-Week
-8,904
Change in managed money net
Open Interest
300,776 cts
Total open interest (all participants)
77th pct
Commercial Net
+17,777
Prod/merchant + swap dealer net
74th pct
Managed money is Neutral (46th percentile) relative to the full history of this market. Managed money reduced 8,904 net contracts week-over-week. Commercial hedgers hold a net long position of 17,777 contracts. Open interest is at an elevated level historically (77th percentile).

Managed money (hedge funds & CTAs) net long position by week of year, overlapping across all available years.

HRW Wheat (Chicago) managed money net position by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-15.7-31.9-34.5
Jan 13-12.8-37.6-34.2
Jan 20-13.0-35.1-38.7
Jan 27-10.3-42.4-38.3
Feb 03-8.8-36.0-33.4
Feb 10-19.5-30.2-33.4
Feb 17-10.6-22.1-36.4
Feb 244.2-21.3-41.9
Mar 031.9-39.3-42.1
Mar 109.4-48.7-40.9
Mar 1710.7-46.7-35.5
Mar 249.7-45.5-37.9
Mar 3121.5-45.7-42.6
Apr 0715.6-49.8-40.5
Apr 1416.9-47.4-44.6
Apr 2128.0-56.6-49.2
Apr 2830.6-67.3-48.2
May 0537.9-72.2-29.6
May 1237.8-80.8-24.0
May 1930.1-80.2-17.3
May 2626.9-79.4-16.8
Jun 0213.5-78.0-9.7
Jun 09-4.5-75.0-13.5
Jun 167.6-62.2-16.4
Jun 23-1.3-43.5-29.0

Commercial hedger net position. Commercials are structurally short (forward sellers); a move toward net long is historically bullish.

HRW Wheat (Chicago) commercial net position by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 063.219.825.2
Jan 137.124.823.7
Jan 2012.721.732.5
Jan 278.129.029.3
Feb 0311.017.222.6
Feb 1022.513.924.2
Feb 1710.24.330.7
Feb 24-6.29.735.2
Mar 032.234.532.4
Mar 10-2.242.231.6
Mar 17-3.734.827.7
Mar 240.238.233.2
Mar 31-11.739.437.3
Apr 07-1.145.238.6
Apr 140.542.842.7
Apr 21-13.344.845.7
Apr 28-14.955.439.0
May 05-16.658.228.2
May 12-15.063.422.2
May 19-4.558.313.2
May 26-2.161.116.4
Jun 027.361.111.5
Jun 0919.458.814.9
Jun 1611.247.320.1
Jun 2317.835.129.2

Managed money gross long contracts by week of year. Elevated gross longs signal crowded positioning and potential liquidation pressure if sentiment shifts.

HRW Wheat (Chicago) managed money gross long by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 0666.351.436.3
Jan 1364.847.837.0
Jan 2063.051.338.6
Jan 2763.449.639.7
Feb 0370.245.641.4
Feb 1064.439.543.7
Feb 1768.033.545.4
Feb 2475.130.445.8
Mar 0369.128.949.2
Mar 1068.731.451.9
Mar 1770.929.454.1
Mar 2468.929.555.4
Mar 3171.937.350.9
Apr 0773.237.452.7
Apr 1462.140.446.0
Apr 2167.637.542.9
Apr 2870.939.640.8
May 0575.538.936.3
May 1273.934.936.1
May 1974.436.538.3
May 2670.934.139.9
Jun 0259.233.544.7
Jun 0953.231.846.3
Jun 1658.933.043.2
Jun 2356.531.334.4

Managed money gross short contracts by week of year. Elevated gross shorts represent potential short-covering fuel — a catalyst can force rapid buybacks and amplify a rally.

HRW Wheat (Chicago) managed money gross short by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 0681.983.370.8
Jan 1377.685.471.2
Jan 2076.086.477.2
Jan 2773.791.978.1
Feb 0379.181.674.7
Feb 1083.969.877.1
Feb 1778.655.681.8
Feb 2470.951.787.7
Mar 0367.368.191.3
Mar 1059.380.192.8
Mar 1760.276.089.7
Mar 2459.275.093.2
Mar 3150.383.093.6
Apr 0757.687.293.2
Apr 1445.287.890.7
Apr 2139.694.192.2
Apr 2840.2106.989.0
May 0537.6111.165.9
May 1236.1115.760.1
May 1944.3116.655.5
May 2644.0113.556.7
Jun 0245.7111.654.4
Jun 0957.7106.859.8
Jun 1651.395.259.6
Jun 2357.874.763.4

Total open interest. Rising OI with a directional move confirms trend; falling OI suggests position liquidation.

HRW Wheat (Chicago) total open interest by week
Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06314.3291.5221.6
Jan 13316.9300.1226.1
Jan 20325.1313.2232.3
Jan 27330.4304.7241.7
Feb 03334.5294.8252.2
Feb 10315.9278.9266.1
Feb 17329.3274.4270.1
Feb 24326.6240.8269.4
Mar 03317.7258.2261.6
Mar 10323.2273.9276.2
Mar 17336.3276.3288.6
Mar 24341.7282.0294.6
Mar 31331.4301.9295.6
Apr 07329.0287.5316.9
Apr 14333.7293.6298.2
Apr 21339.9285.4291.8
Apr 28322.7281.2285.0
May 05337.4298.2254.2
May 12356.3315.0258.9
May 19355.1322.0267.4
May 26349.1314.4273.6
Jun 02346.4318.8282.2
Jun 09324.3320.9281.3
Jun 16322.4309.2260.7
Jun 23300.8275.8257.5

Nearby futures price (KE=F). Price shown for context; COT positioning is the primary signal.

Deferred crop-year net positions by trader category (CFTC 'Other' crop-year split: contract months beyond the current crop year, futures and options combined). Teal = managed money deferred net. Gold = swap dealer deferred net. Red = producer/commercial deferred net (forward hedging of new-crop supply). White dotted = SPRT percentile rank — share of OI concentrated in deferred crop years. Elevated concentration + reversing MM positioning signals structural conditions for amplified price moves.

World Ex-China Supply Context
USDA WASDE · Stocks-to-Use Ratio (STU) · China's non-tradeable reserves excluded · WASDE #672
Global grain S&D figures include China's domestic reserves, held by state entities and not available to international trade. World Less China STU isolates the supply tightness visible to globally-trading buyers and exporters — the figure that drives trade flows and price discovery outside of China.
Corn Ex-China STU
9.6%
MY 2026/27 · WASDE #672
60th pct
Soybeans Ex-China STU
16.3%
MY 2026/27 · WASDE #672
20th pct
Wheat Ex-China STU
17.4%
MY 2026/27 · WASDE #672
50th pct
Commodity World STU % Ex-China STU % Signal
Corn18.4%9.6%60th pct — near average
Soybeans19.8%16.3%20th pct — historically tight
Wheat26.6%17.4%50th pct — near average

Source: USDA WASDE · WASDE #672