Futures Now

Gartman: Here’s what I’m watching in the second half

Gartman: What I'm watching in the 2nd half
VIDEO3:2103:21
Gartman: What I'm watching in the 2nd half

As the second half of the year gets underway, commodities king Dennis Gartman has his eyes on one market that he believes is poised to surge: agriculture.

Corn, wheat and soybean prices saw a massive rally this last week after the USDA reported that grain prices could rally in 2015 and 2016 as a result of crop damage and harvest delays due to excessive rainfall. Corn and wheat soared to year-to-date highs and soybean hit its highest levels since January.

"Usually we get rallies in June and July on drought conditions, but this year we're getting rallies in the grain markets on excess of rain conditions," Gartman said last week on CNBC's "Futures Now."

The NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information reports that May 2015 was the wettest month on record, with data going back 121 years. The month of June was also one for the books, as record rainfall flooded many regions in the U.S.

"The grain markets have taken off, interestingly enough, because there is too much water and we haven't been able to get the crops in the ground," said Gartman, editor and publisher of The Gartman Letter. "Further, the crops that have gotten planted will likely be sending their roots less deep into the soil, putting them at risk of drier conditions in July and August."

The USDA reported that as of June 21, around 19 percent of the winter wheat crop was harvested, which is well below five-year average of 31 percent for this time of year.

Of the grains, Gartman said he would rather buy corn over wheat, as a strong dollar makes our wheat crop expensive compared to other international exports, which could weigh on the wheat trade.

Newly planted cotton as seen this week on a farm in Tulare, California.

But his top pick of the bunch might actually be one of the most overlooked.

"The crop that is most interesting to me is the cotton crop. No one is paying attention to it." Gartman said, nothing that the price of cotton has deteriorated more than 12 percent in the past year and the amount of acreage being planted is down about 15 to 20 percent over that period. "Cotton is down $2 a pound several years ago to 65 cents a pound. That's a precipitous decline."

According to Gartman, the low price of cotton isn't attractive to farmers, as they are more likely to plant a more profitable corn or soybean. "I think we'll be surprised how much cotton acreage has been cut in California and on the high plains of Texas," he said.

But nonetheless, Gartman said, "If you're going to make me do something, I'd rather buy cotton than anything else."