Why Farm Reports Still Move Grain Prices, Even as Tech Improves

The USDA's July farm report on July 10 still sets prices for wheat, corn, and soybeans despite private satellite companies now offering forecasts as good as the government's. Within hours of release, traders repriced futures based on the USDA's ending-stock numbers—the amount left over after harvest. That single framework anchors how crops are bought, sold, and valued across the industry.