The estimated Central Illinois crush margin increased week ending May 12^th, moving down week-on-week by 8.0 percent. Year-over-year crush margins remain under last year, last week by 52.1 percent from the respective week in 2022. As of last week, pricing for soy meal in Central ILL rose to $440.50 per bushel, a 2.1 percent increase from last week. A decrease in soybeans was witnessed last week, lower by 1.3 percent, from $14.68 to $14.49/lb. Soybean oil was down from the prior week as well, softer by 8.5 percent or ₵4.81 from ₵56.83 to ₵52.02/lb. The varied values on soy related items led to a $0.16 drop in the margin from $2.05 to $1.895. The margin is currently $0.43 below the 6-week average of $2.32 due to the higher values at the start of May.

Soybeans are 14.6 percent lower than last year; soybean meal has moved above by 2.4 percent while soybean oil is showing a year-on-year drop of 43.3 percent. Values on soy has been mixed due to increased ebbs and flow in…