Ed Usset

The 2011-2012 corn marketing year is approaching the halfway point. "At this time of year prospects for marketing-year consumption and ending stocks are often fairly clear and the market begins to focus more on new crop prospects. This year, consumption, stocks and price prospects are far from clear," says University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Darrel Good. "There is considerable uncertainty about the pace of consumption for the rest of year in each of the major categories. If anything, the uncertainty outlined two weeks ago has intensified."...More

Last spring, the newly elected government in Canada announced its intention to do away with the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). Even though the CWB operates as a marketing system for different commodities (wheat and barley) in a different country, this will impact corn and soybean markets. I’ll use the next two columns to tackle this question, starting with a little background and some reflections on my own dealings with the CWB....More

Following the Jan. 12 crop report, the industry was in shock that the numbers were not as bullish as anticipated. Granted, the trend in usage in both corn and soybeans is in the wrong direction, but this does not make the 2012 crop any less significant....More

Increases in world grain stocks and estimated 2011 total corn yields surprised grain markets expecting decreases – especially in corn. For the sixth consecutive year, at least one of the "big three" agricultural commodities made a limit move in the futures market following release of the January Crop Production and Stocks reports from the USDA on Thursday (Jan. 12)....More