The July 10 USDA monthly report of U.S. and world supply and demand projections for major crops contained a number of changes from a month ago, but generally points to abundant crop supplies for the year ahead, says Darrel Good, a University of Illinois Extension economist.
“For soybeans, the USDA increased its projection of both the domestic crush and exports during the current year by 10 million bushels,” says Good.
Those increases were offset by an increase in the projection of imports and a smaller projection of residual use of soybeans. Year-ending stocks are still projected at 110 million bushels, he says.
But the projection of 2008-2009 marketing year soybean exports of 1.26 billion bushels could be exceeded, he notes.
“USDA estimates place cumulative marketing year exports through July 2, 2009, at 1.145 billion bushels. Those estimates suggest that weekly shipments through August need to average 13.4 million bushels/week to reach the new projection of 1.26 billion bushels for the year,” he says.
“However, Census Bureau estimates through May 2009 exceed USDA estimates by 35 million bushels. If that margin persists, weekly shipments would need to average only 9.3 million/week. If all the bushels that were sold but not yet shipped as of July 2 are actually exported, exports for the year could be as high as 1.3 billion bushels,” he says.
Exports at that level point to an unreasonably small year-ending inventory of 70 million bushels, he notes.
“The recent drop in old-crop soybean prices suggests that the market is not concerned about old-crop supplies, even with a late-maturing crop. It now appears, however, that some additional rationing of old-crop soybean supplies is needed or that the 2008 crop was actually larger than estimated,” he says.
For the 2009-2010 marketing year, updated USDA projections reflect the larger soybean-planted acreage figure released on June 30. With a yield of 42.6 bu./acre, the 2009 harvest is expected to total 3.26 billion bushels. Stocks on Sept. 1, 2010, are projected at 250 million bushels, Good says.
“The yield projection is slightly higher than our trend calculation of 42.2 bu. This projection is based on weather conditions through June, and summer weather conditions that reflect an equal chance of the actual weather conditions of each of the last 49 years is also 42.2 bu. The difference of 0.4 bu. is equal to 30 million bushels,” he says.
The USDA projects the 2009-2010 marketing year average farm price in a range of $8.30-10.30. The futures market currently reflects an average cash price for the upcoming year of just under $9, he says.
For corn, the USDA lowered the projected domestic use during the current marketing year by 220 million bushels, with feed use and ethanol use projections each declining by 100 million bushels, the economist says.
“The projection of 2008-2009 marketing year corn exports was increased by 50 million bushels. Cumulative Census Bureau export estimates through May 2009 exceeded USDA projections by about 60 million bushels. Still, the export pace will have to accelerate to reach the projected total. Year-ending stocks are now projected at 1.77 billion bushels,” he says.
For the 2009-2010 marketing year, the projection of corn production was increased by 355 million bushels, reflecting the larger planted acreage estimate released on June 30
“Stocks of U.S. corn on Sept. 1, 2010, are projected at 1.55 billion bushels – 468 million more than projected last month, but 220 million less than the projection of stocks at the beginning of the 2009-2010 marketing year,” he says.
The 2009-2010 marketing year average farm price of corn is projected in a range of $3.35-4.15. The futures market currently reflects an average cash price near $3.25, he notes.
“The current price of corn likely reflects a higher average yield expectation than the 153.4 bu. projected by the USDA. Weather conditions through June and summer weather conditions that reflect equal chances of actual conditions in each of the last 49 years would point to an average yield near 155 bu. Based on current weather forecasts and crop condition ratings, the market is likely trading an even higher yield expectation,” he says.
Changes in the projections for wheat point to larger year-ending stocks, he says. The U.S. average yield projection was increased by 0.7 bu. When applied to the larger acreage revealed on June 30, the yield forecast points to a crop of 2.112 billion bushels, 96 million larger than the June forecast.
“The marketing year export projection was increased by 25 million bushels, and marketing year feed use was increased by 10 million bushels. Still, year-ending stocks are projected at an eight-year high of 706 million bushels,” Good says.
If favorable crop weather continues, some further weakness in crop prices might be expected. The low price of wheat, along with a weak basis and large carry in the futures market, however, suggest retaining some ownership of the newly harvested soft red winter wheat crop, he says.
“December 2009 corn futures are well below the price guarantee for crop revenue products, which discourages additional new-crop sales. November 2009 soybean futures are about 30¢ above the crop revenue insurance price guarantee,” he says.