By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of May 11. Watch for coverage of these and other topics through the week on our subscription platforms as well as on www.DTNPF.com.

Note that all report release and webinar times are Central Daylight Savings Time unless otherwise noted.

1. WASDE release: On Monday, the May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report hits the wires at 11 a.m. The May WASDE is always closely watched because the report offers the first detailed forecasts for the 2025-26 corn and soybean crops. We will post those numbers shortly after 11 a.m., with updates and analysis throughout the morning. To see DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery's preview of what's expected, go here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…. As he noted in it, "Given the turbulent recent months marked by the onset of the second U.S. and China trade war, the new-crop soybean balance sheet is likely to receive the lion's share of attention for Monday."

We will host the traditional follow-up webinar on the report with Montgomery at 12:30 p.m. To register for that webinar, go here: https://www.dtn.com/…

2. Winter Wheat Tour: The Wheat Quality Council's 2025 Hard Winter Wheat Tour takes place in Kansas this week, and DTN Crops Editor Jason Jenkins is participating again this year. Coverage begins Monday with a tour preview article, followed by reports each evening that will include in-field crop observations, along with average yield estimates as the tour moves along routes from Manhattan west to Colby on Tuesday, south and east to Wichita on Wednesday and back north to Manhattan for a wrap-up and final yield estimate on Thursday afternoon. Follow him on social platform X @JasonJenkinsDTN during the day for additional coverage of the 67th annual tour. DTN will also watch for any market reaction to the tour estimates.

3. Budget reconciliation bill: Eyes are on the House Agriculture Committee over an expected markup hearing for its slice of the budget reconciliation bill. As of May 8, however, the committee had not released a specific date to hold that meeting. The reconciliation bill will allow the Republican-led Congress to extend the 2017 tax cuts, but Republicans also want to include cuts to certain spending programs. We'll be watching closely what is done with tax cuts, commodity programs, crop insurance and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

4. Weather pattern change: An upper-level trough currently in the Gulf of Alaska will move into the West next week, and this could lead to a storm system in the Central U.S. around mid-week, followed by another on the weekend. This could help planted crops to germinate and emerge in good condition, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick (https://www.dtnpf.com/…). However, we're also watching if drought areas will get needed precipitation.

5. Economic reports for the week: Monday, at 10 a.m. is the latest Grain Inspections reports, at 11 a.m. the USDA Crop Production and May WASDE reports are released, at 2 p.m. is the Monthly U.S. Federal Budget numbers. Tuesday starts at 7:30 a.m. with Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Core CPI, then at 2 p.m. County Estimates Cattle and Sheep and Flour Milling Product Summary. Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. we'll see EIA's Weekly Petroleum Report, including Ethanol, followed at 2 p.m. by Broiler and Turkey Hatchery data release. Turning to a busy Thursday, at 7:30 a.m. is Grain Export Sales, Initial Jobless Claims, U.S. Retail Sales and Producer Price Index (PPI) and Core PPI. We'll also see the Empire State Manufacturing Survey and Capacity Utilization. At 9 a.m. Business Inventories and Home Builder Confidence Index comes out. Then, Friday at 7:30 a.m. Import Price Index, Housing Starts and Building Permits reports are released. At 9 a.m. Consumer Sentiment is revealed. At 2:30 p.m. CFTC's Commitment of Traders report comes out.

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