How big is the U.S. corn crop? That’s a topic of much debate these days as traders prepare predictions for USDA’s Aug. 12 estimates. Ratings put out by the agency Monday afternoon point to potential for yields of 175 bpa nationwide and a mammoth crop topping 15 billion bushels. But warm nights and challenging weather have farmers worried. The latest vegetation maps appear to show widespread deterioration in the northwest Corn Belt last week, helping firm markets overnight.

 Knorr discusses overnight market moves with Pam Jahnke, Wisconsin Farm Report, and you can listen using the audio tool on this page (just scroll down).

As USDA report nears next week, speculation about the size of the 2016 corn crop continues.

Senior Editor Bryce Knorr first joined Farm Futures Magazine in 1987. In addition to analyzing and writing about the commodity markets, he is a former futures introducing broker and is a registered Commodity Trading Advisor. He conducts Farm Futures exclusive surveys on acreage, production and management issues and is one of the analysts regularly contracted by business wire services before major USDA crop reports. Besides the Morning Call on www.FarmFutures.com he writes weekly reviews for corn, soybeans, and wheat that include selling price targets, charts and seasonal trends. His other weekly reviews on basis, energy, fertilizer and financial markets and feature price forecasts for key crop inputs. A journalist with 38 years of experience, he received the Master Writers Award from the American Agricultural Editors Association. And you can follow Farm Futures throughout the day on Twitter at www.twitter.com/farmfutures.

Pam Jahnke is Farm Director of the Wisconsin Farm Report that is carried on 16 stations in Wisconsin.  Known as the "Fabulous Farm Babe" Pam studied broadcast journalism and broad area agriculture at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. After college, Pam moved into her chosen field, doing farm broadcasting, radio and television, from Green Bay to Eau Claire, WI - and she's never looked back.  Pam often says she feels like farm broadcasting and communicating on behalf of food producers is exactly what she was made for. Pam has been named "Friend of Agriculture" by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture for her assistance in raising awareness of the "Harvest of Hope" program. She has also served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.