Commodity Markets Quiet After 3-Day Weekend

Corn, soybeans, and wheat prices down as farmers sell more grain amid good weather

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Commodity markets are relatively quiet to start the week after a 3-day weekend, with corn down 2-3 cents, soybeans down 1-2 cents, and wheat down 4-5 cents. Crude oil is up 90-92 cents and the U.S. dollar is up 21 points. Farmers have been moving a lot of grain due to the much above normal temperatures across the U.S., leading to long truck lines. Funds are currently short corn, long soybeans, and short wheat. The USDA Ag Outlook Conference is happening later this week.

Why it matters

The commodity market movements reflect the current supply and demand dynamics, with farmers selling more grain due to the favorable weather conditions. This could impact prices and availability of these key agricultural commodities. The upcoming USDA conference may provide further insights into the market outlook.

The details

Corn prices are lower as farmers have been selling more grain due to the exceptional weather across much of the U.S. The recent surge in cash movement is keeping corn prices limited on the upside, though demand for U.S. corn should keep prices well supported. In South America, there have been reports of too much rain in Brazil delaying safrinha corn planting, while parts of Argentina are on the dry side, though the 7-14 day forecast looks to improve. Soybean prices are also down, but the Funds set a record 1-week position change last week, buying over 94,000 contracts, on expectations of increased Chinese buying. Wheat prices have trended lower, though there are signs the Funds may be looking to exit their short positions as the spreads in Chicago wheat firmed up last week.

  • February 17, 2026

The players

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture, which is hosting the Ag Outlook Conference later this week.

Funds

Investment funds that are currently short corn, long soybeans, and short wheat.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The USDA Ag Outlook Conference on Thursday and Friday this week could provide fresh input to drive commodity prices in either direction.

The takeaway

The commodity markets are reflecting the current supply and demand dynamics, with farmers taking advantage of the favorable weather to sell more grain. However, strong demand, especially from China, is helping to support soybean prices. The upcoming USDA conference will be closely watched for insights into the market outlook.