The 2018 calendar year can definitely be divided into two distinct periods for the crop markets. From the start of the year to the end of May, the crop markets were slowly building up higher prices and better-projected returns.

These shifts were based on very strong domestic and international usage for both corn and soybeans and the slight downshift in acreage for both crops. However, since the end of May, the markets have taken a beating, with futures declining 10 to 20 percent, erasing projected positive returns and bringing the outlook back to a breakeven ballgame at best.

While domestic demand remains relatively strong, ag exports have weakened with the imposition of tariffs and delays in ...