BarnX Daily
BarnX Daily
Feed, livestock and market intelligence for operational decisions.
Edition date
August 14, 2026
Coverage window
August 12, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. to August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT (America/Vancouver)
Last verified
August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT (America/Vancouver)
Today in one minute
- 01
USDA’s first survey-based August forecast put U.S. corn at 16.013 billion bushels and soybeans at a record 4.519 billion bushels; larger acreage outweighed lower yields than projected in July.
- 02
New-crop U.S. export sales remained active: Mexico led corn bookings and China accounted for most soybean sales reported for July 31–August 6.
- 03
Saskatchewan harvest was only 2% complete, while 51% of cropland topsoil moisture was rated short or very short; later-seeded crops still need rain during grain fill.
- 04
U.S. fuel-ethanol output increased to 1.117 million barrels per day, a directional signal for corn grind and distillers-grain production, not a guarantee of local DDGS availability.
- 05
APHIS now lists August 24 for reopening the Douglas, Arizona, port to Mexican cattle; other southern livestock ports remain closed or have no date.
Editor’s view
The August supply reset points to abundant North American corn and soybeans, but it does not remove procurement risk. Export commitments and ethanol grind are already competing for the larger crop, Saskatchewan’s moisture deficit may still affect grade and regional availability, and the staged cattle-border reopening could alter feeder flows and ration demand. Buyers should separate national volume from local basis, quality, freight and timing.
Lead development
Larger U.S. acreage offsets softer yields in USDA’s August crop reset
Geography: United States, with North American feed-market implications
- What changed
- USDA forecast 2026 U.S. corn production at 16.013 billion bushels, the second-largest crop on record, with a 180.7-bushel-per-acre yield. Soybean production was forecast at a record 4.519 billion bushels and 52.7 bushels per acre. Both yield forecasts were lower than USDA’s July assumptions, but updated planted area—96.7 million acres of corn and 86.8 million acres of soybeans—lifted production.
- Why it matters
- The headline supply is favourable for feed availability, yet acreage rather than yield did much of the work.
- Who may be affected
- Feed mills, livestock producers, grain merchandisers, crushers and nutritionists across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
- What to watch next
- Field losses, test weight, mycotoxin risk, harvest pace and the September survey-based production update.
- Evidence note
- Confirmed by USDA NASS primary survey-based forecasts; production estimates remain forecasts and will be revised.
Other developments
Mexico leads new-crop corn sales while China anchors soybean bookings
Geography: United States exports to Mexico, China and other destinations
- What changed
- For July 31–August 6, USDA reported 924,500 metric tonnes of 2026–2027 corn net sales, including 416,400 tonnes to Mexico. New-crop soybean sales reached 1.760 million tonnes, of which 1.446 million tonnes were to China. Wheat exports were a marketing-year high of 490,600 tonnes, including 110,700 tonnes to Mexico.
- Why it matters
- Strong forward demand can absorb part of the larger crop before harvest and influence Gulf, Pacific Northwest and interior basis.
- Who may be affected
- Grain exporters, feed mills, crushers, livestock producers and cross-border logistics providers.
- What to watch next
- Weekly sales execution, cancellations, barge and rail movement, and Mexico’s share of corn and wheat shipments.
- Evidence note
- Confirmed by USDA FAS exporter reports; sales are commitments and may be revised or cancelled before shipment.
- Sources
Saskatchewan harvest lags normal as moisture remains short
Geography: Saskatchewan
- What changed
- Saskatchewan reported harvest at 2% complete, below the five-year average of 6% and the ten-year average of 5%. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated 43% short and 8% very short; pasture moisture was 46% short and 14% very short. Dryland alfalfa yield averaged 1.90 tonnes per acre and silage yield was estimated at 7.00 tonnes per acre.
- Why it matters
- Later-seeded crops still need moisture during grain fill, while slower harvest delays firm information on grade, moisture and feed-grain availability.
- Who may be affected
- Saskatchewan growers, Prairie feed mills, forage buyers, cattle operations and grain handlers.
- What to watch next
- Rainfall, heat, harvest acceleration, first grade patterns and localized disease or insect damage.
- Evidence note
- Confirmed by a provincial primary report based on weekly field observations; yields remain preliminary.
U.S. ethanol production rises, supporting corn grind and co-product output
Geography: United States, with regional feed-ingredient implications
- What changed
- EIA estimated U.S. fuel-ethanol production at 1.117 million barrels per day for the week ended August 7, up from 1.107 million barrels per day a week earlier. Midwest output rose to 1.060 million barrels per day from 1.047 million.
- Why it matters
- Higher ethanol output generally means more corn consumption and more distillers grains produced.
- Who may be affected
- Ethanol plants, corn buyers, DDGS merchandisers, feed mills and beef, dairy and swine operations.
- What to watch next
- Weekly ethanol production and stocks, plant maintenance and regional DDGS basis.
- Evidence note
- Confirmed by official weekly EIA estimates; DDGS volume is an inference and is not measured in this dataset.
APHIS sets August 24 for first listed cattle-port reopening
Geography: Mexico–United States border; Douglas, Arizona
- What changed
- On August 13, APHIS updated its import page to list August 24 for reopening Douglas, Arizona, to bovine imports from Mexico. Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, remain without reopening dates, and all other southern livestock ports remain closed. Imports must follow New World screwworm inspection and treatment requirements.
- Why it matters
- A single-port reopening could gradually restore feeder-cattle flows but creates concentrated inspection, scheduling and transport constraints.
- Who may be affected
- Mexican cattle exporters, U.S. importers and feedlots, veterinarians, haulers and feed suppliers.
- What to watch next
- Whether Douglas opens on schedule, shipment throughput, disease-control compliance and dates for the New Mexico ports.
- Evidence note
- Confirmed by an APHIS primary page; the reopening date remains subject to operational and animal-health conditions.
Market and ingredient watch
Livestock and biosecurity watch
The August 24 Douglas reopening is a controlled trade measure, not evidence that New World screwworm risk has ended. APHIS protocols require inspection and treatment for eligible Mexican cattle, while other southern livestock ports remain closed or undated. No separate newly confirmed North American livestock outbreak meeting this edition’s materiality threshold was verified during the coverage window.
Mill, safety, and logistics watch
Next to watch
August 17
USDA Crop Progress
Crop condition and maturity readings will test whether the lower August yield assumptions are stabilizing. [8]
August 18
AAFC National Agroclimate Risk Report
The update will clarify Canadian drought, excess-moisture and wildfire risks relevant to crops and forage. [9]
August 19, 10:30 a.m. ET
EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report
Ethanol production and stocks will update corn-grind and co-product direction. [6]
August 20
USDA Weekly Export Sales
New commitments will show whether Mexico and China continue absorbing new-crop corn and soybeans. [3]
August 20, 3:00 p.m. ET
USDA Cattle on Feed and Milk Production
Placements, marketings and milk output will inform feed-demand expectations. [8]
Source ledger
- 1
Crop Production
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
https://release.nass.usda.gov/reports/crop0826.pdf- Published:
- August 12, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 2
World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates
U.S. Department of Agriculture
https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde/wasde0826.pdf- Published:
- August 12, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 3
Weekly Highlights
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/esrqs/StaticReports/WeeklyHighlightsReport.pdf- Published:
- August 13, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 4
Crop Report for the Period August 4 to August 10, 2026
Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Agriculture
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2026/august/13/crop-report-for-the-period-august-4-to-august-10-2026- Published:
- August 13, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Primary
- 5
Weekly Ethanol Production
U.S. Energy Information Administration
https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pnp_wprode_s1_w.htm- Published:
- August 12, 2026 (week ended August 7)
- Accessed:
- August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 6
Weekly Petroleum Status Report
U.S. Energy Information Administration
https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/supply/weekly/- Published:
- August 12, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 7
Importing Live Cattle and Bison From Mexico to the United States
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/live-animal-import/cattle-bison-germplasm/mexico- Published:
- August 13, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Primary
- 8
Publications — Report by Date
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Calendar/reports_by_date.php- Published:
- Dynamic August 2026 calendar
- Accessed:
- August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data
- 9
National Agroclimate Risk Report
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/weather/national-agroclimate-risk-report- Published:
- July 27, 2026; next update August 18, 2026
- Accessed:
- August 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. PDT
- Type:
- Official data