Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links-Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogleTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.China's Potential Retaliation Against US Grain Imports: US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack suggests China may favor Brazilian corn and soybeans due to recent legislation limiting US farmland ownership; Chinese imports of US agricultural products decrease by $6 billion in the first quarter, prompting Vilsack to advocate for diversifying export markets away from China. ????Commodity Price Surge Indicates Economic Improvement: Global commodity prices, reflected in the S&P GSCI index, surge by 12% this year, outpacing the S&P 500's 9.1% increase; rising prices driven by expectations of increased demand from the US and China, with experts anticipating further climbs as real incomes rise, potentially affecting Federal Reserve's rate decisions. ???USDA's Crop Production and WASDE Report Expectations: USDA's monthly report on Crop Production and WASDE to feature old crop data for the US, with new crop balance sheets for corn and soybeans expected in May; trade anticipates lower Brazilian production estimates and minimal changes to old crop US balance sheets. ???USDA Reports Flash Sale of Soybeans: US exporters sell 124,000mt of soybeans to unknown destinations for the 2023/2024 marketing year; accumulated soybean sales show a 19% decrease compared to the same period last year. ???USDA's Discontinuation of Reports Draws Criticism: USDA's decision to cease July cattle inventory report and other data publications due to budget constraints criticized by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) for lack of transparency; elimination of county-level data could pose challenges for grain traders. ???Treasury Yields Decline Ahead of Inflation Data Release: Treasury yields fall as investors await CPI and PPI data releases; CPI forecasted to show 3.4% increase in March, while PPI expected to indicate 2.2% yearly rise in prices, contributing to uncertainty regarding timing and frequency of potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. ???