WASDE Preview: December Report to Analyze Southern Hemisphere’s Grain Harvest

While this month’s WASDE report will not include updated figures on U.S. crop size, officials say it will offer a clearer picture of crop conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — In a little more than 24 hours, we will get our first look at the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for December. This month’s WASDE report is expected to give markets a clear picture of where things stand after a busy harvest season.

Early trade estimates are already out with a big focus on the U.S. corn crop. Last year at this time, ending stocks were around 1.5 billion bushels. This year, traders estimate ending stocks will come in around 2.13 billion bushels. On the soybean side, the expectation is 308 million bushels. That is slightly below last year. And for wheat, estimates show that the crop’s ending stocks are around 40 million bushels over last year.

While this month’s WASDE report will not include updated figures on U.S. crop size, officials say it will offer a clearer picture of crop conditions in the Southern Hemisphere, with a heavy focus on the wheat harvest in Australia and the first corn and soybean crops from Brazil.

With the government shutdown, the USDA said export sales data that would have been released in October will now be released this week, too.

We will bring you those numbers from the delayed December WASDE Report and U.S. Crop Production reports right here on Market Day Report after they are released on Tuesday at 12 PM ET.

Related Stories
USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance payments could begin this weekend as producers face tight margins, shifting acreage expectations, cattle herd contraction, and growing pressure for a stronger farm safety net.
Delays on year-round E15 keep potential corn demand and fuel savings in limbo.
Strong export demand supports barge markets, but weather risks remain.
Corn export pace remains the bright spot, but stable ethanol export demand remains a critical support for corn markets.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Michael Cliver discusses his recent visit to the White House with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Trump Administration’s “Working Families Tax Cuts” impact on ranching families.
The 2026 Farm Bill advances out of committee, but political divisions delay final passage as lawmakers push to protect farmers, SNAP, and crop insurance programs.
PLC and NCBA Chief Counsel Kaitlynn Glover reacts to the USDA’s new Grazing Action Plan, regulatory relief for ranchers, and the industry’s efforts to improve access to public lands.
Secretary Rollins is signaling a possible reopening of the southern border to Mexican feeder cattle as officials work to manage the threat of the New World Screwworm.
On this week’s Rural Health Matters, Dr. Jeffrey Gold raises awareness about Parkinson’s disease, shares insights on early detection, and offers guidance for patients and families in rural communities.
Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue joined us to discuss wildfire recovery efforts in the state, impacts to agriculture, and conditions heading into the spring planting season.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.