By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of Dec. 7. Watch for coverage of these and other topics throughout the week on our subscription platforms as well as on www.DTNPF.com.

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

1. A Bridge to far ... mers: We've been getting the "it's coming" signal from Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins on aid payments for a bit. In the recent cabinet meeting, she promised an announcement on a "bridge" payment" this week. For background, see DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton's latest piece on Rollin's comments, here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

2. WASDE Tuesday: We'll have full coverage of the Dec. 9 Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates reports, starting at 11 a.m. December is typically a quiet report, with few updates or adjustments ahead of the big January numbers. But with markets still hungry for data and direction following the government shutdown, this WASDE may stir some interest. We'll follow the report and updates through the morning, and the December Rhett's Reaction webinar, featuring DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery, begins at 12:30 p.m. To register for the free event, go here: https://www.dtn.com/…

3. Winter storms roll through: The week will see significant winter storms rolling through the middle of the country, with at least four fresh systems expected early to mid-week. In between, some warm air could move into Kansas and Texas, with the temperature fluctuations making things tough on livestock.

4. South American weather: A front has stalled over central Brazil and is producing scattered showers and much-needed heavy rainfall during the weekend. This will provide moisture for flowering soybeans. Another round of showers could come in early part of the week. Argentina continues to be dry, with scattered showers being sandwiched between long stretches of dry weather. Overall, soil moisture is mostly favorable. See the latest South American blog about heavy rain in Brazil at https://www.dtnpf.com/….

5. Economic reports due this week: Monday at 10 a.m. we'll see Grain Export Inspections. Tuesday at 9 a.m. the delayed October Job Openings report is due, then at 11 a.m. is the USDA Crop Production and WASDE report (see item 2 above) as well as the Cotton Ginnings report. Wednesday kicks off with the 7:30 a.m. release of the Employment Cost Index, then 9:30 a.m. the EIA weekly petroleum report, including ethanol production and stocks. At 1 p.m. is monthly U.S. Federal Budget data, the Federal Reserve Interest Rate Decision, and at 1:30 p.m. Chairman Jerome Powell's press conference. At 2 p.m. Broiler Hatchery, Fats and Oils, Grain Crushings and Flour Milling reports are due. Thursday the 7:30 a.m. report list includes Grain Export Sales, Initial Jobless Claims and the Producer Price Index (PPI). At 10:30 a.m. is Weekly Economic Index, then Slaughter Weekly report at 2 p.m. Friday we may see another round of "catch up" data from the CFTC Commitment of Traders report at 3 p.m.

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Bonus content: Check out DTN Field Posts Podcast Episode 272: First Look at the 2026 Ag Weather Forecast. Podcast host Sarah Mock shares DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick's session from the recent 2025 DTN's Virtual Ag Summit webinar. Farmers from across the country convened virtually to discuss the year that was, the year ahead, and the key issues affecting their operations.

Forecasts for weather and market in the year to come were, as always, a top issue, and on this podcast hear Baranick's 2026 seasonal forecast from the webinar, where he took a closer look at the winter conditions so far, and give us insight on what might be around the corner.

He gave the latest on how the ongoing La Nina is shaping current systems, when we should keep an eye out for the impacts of polar vortexes, and how the combination of the two might shape drought conditions throughout the winter and planting timing come spring.

Listeners get a region-by-region outlook on winter and spring conditions, and then Baranick offered insight on what the models predict about the summer of 2026.

Finally, Baranick dug into the weather patterns in Latin America, how Brazil and Argentina in particular are doing, and what still might change in the coming months for the United States' chief competitors.

You can find DTN Field Posts podcasts at https://dtn.link/…, or https://www.dtnpf.com/… and they're also available on podcast hosting sites such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Watch for the latest news at www.dtnpf.com, and follow and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dtnprogressivefarmer. You can find our news on Instagram as well. Give us a follow @dtn.agnews

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