The corn market held onto gains on Friday, despite pulling off the highs into the close. Futures were fractional to 2 cents higher across most contracts, with December corn up 9 ½ cents for the week. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price rose 1 1/4 cents to $3.81 1/2.
December corn futures have averaged a close of $4.18 so far in October, which is used to determine the harvest price for crop insurance. This level is below the $4.70 recorded in February but remains above last year’s harvest price of $4.16.
Harvest activity is expected to continue over the next week for much of the Western Corn Belt, although the Eastern Corn Belt (ECB) is forecasted to receive 1-3 inches of rain. These precipitation levels may cause a slowdown in later harvest progress but should help replenish lower river levels along the Mississippi.
Yield results reported so far have been below some expectations, adding a note of caution to the market outlook.
In Argentina, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange estimates that 29.9% of the corn crop has been planted. This pace is ahead of both the same time last year and the average planting pace.
As of the close on the publication date:
– December 2025 Corn closed at $4.22 1/2, up 3/4 cent
– Nearby Cash Corn was $3.81 1/2, up 1 1/4 cents
– March 2026 Corn closed at $4.36 1/2, up 1 cent
– May 2026 Corn closed at $4.45, up 1 1/4 cents
Don’t miss a day of market insights. From crude oil to coffee, sign up for Barchart’s best-in-class commodity analysis—free of charge.
*Disclosure:* On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not hold positions, either directly or indirectly, in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data provided are for informational purposes only. For more details, please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Nasdaq, Inc.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/corn-heads-weekend-higher