WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — U.S. grain inspections declined week to week but remained strong overall, led by corn and steady shipments of soybeans, wheat, and sorghum.
For the week ending March 5, USDA reported corn inspections at 59.7 million bushels, down from the previous week but still well ahead of last year’s pace. Marketing-year inspections now total about 1.62 billion bushels, reflecting continued strong export movement to major destinations, including Mexico, Japan, and Colombia.
Soybean inspections totaled 32.3 million bushels for the week, also lower week-to-week but supported by strong demand from multiple markets. China remained a key buyer, taking significant volumes through both Gulf and Pacific Northwest export channels. Marketing-year soybean inspections now stand near 996 million bushels, trailing last year’s pace but showing steady weekly flow.
Wheat inspections reached 18.2 million bushels, improving from the prior week and running ahead of year-ago levels. Shipments were led by loadings in the Pacific Northwest, with continued movement into Asian and Latin American markets. Sorghum inspections totaled 8.3 million bushels, sharply above last year, with China again the dominant destination.
Regionally, Gulf and Pacific Northwest ports handled the bulk of export activity, while interior shipments supported additional volume. Total weekly grain inspections across all commodities came in near 122 million bushels.
Farmers are navigating tight margins and monitoring shifting logistics as the spring planting season approaches, keeping a close eye on input prices and potential supply issues that could influence planting decisions.
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to share insights on what producers are seeing in the field as planting gets underway.
In his interview with RFD NEWS, Williamson discussed the concerns farmers are raising heading into the season, including challenges around input costs, supply chain pressures, and overall market uncertainty. He also previewed expectations for the latest USDA WASDE report, and the potential impact it could have on commodity markets.
