Biofuel Becomes an Increasingly Reliable Market for Soybean Growers

With new renewable volume obligations announced this year, the Iowa Soybean Association says they’ll be vital to a farmer’s bottom line.

As soybean growers look for new buyers in the coming weeks and months, biodiesel has proven to be a reliable market. With new renewable volume obligations announced this year, the Iowa Soybean Association says they’ll be vital to a farmer’s bottom line.

On the ethanol side, output has been down lately. Numbers released earlier this month by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) show refineries produced at their lowest amount since May.

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Expect choppier basis and wider bids — hedge earlier, keep logistics flexible, and watch Argentina and India headlines for near-term opportunities.
President Trump is expected to press Argentina to take a tougher stance on China in exchange for political and economic support.
Treat storage as risk management and logistics, and budget to break even since export growth is unlikely to absorb bigger U.S. corn and soybean crops.
Escalating U.S.–China tensions threaten soybean demand as farm finances are stretched further.
Expect a steady corn grind and selective basis strength where exports and local blending stay active.
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