
Grain Outlook Steve Riggins, Extension Professor Department of Agricultural Economics October 2005
U.S. Corn Yield Agricultural Economics
U.S. Corn Acres & Production Agricultural Economics
U.S. Corn Use Agricultural Economics
U.S. Corn Use: Exports & FSI Agricultural Economics
U.S. Ethanol Capacity • 2004 – record growth continued – 81 plants in 20 States • Record production of 3.41 billion gallons – 21% increase over 2003 • An increase of 109 percent since 2000 • Completed 12 new plants in 2004 • At the end of 2004: 16 new plants under construction and 2 major expansions underway – Dry Mills accounted for 75% of Capacity • By July 2005 existing plus new capacity projected to equal 4.906 billion gallons by fall/winter of 2005 • Energy bill passed authorizing 4 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be blended into nation’s fuel supply in 2006, rising to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012 • Source -- RFA Agricultural Economics
U.S. Corn Balance Sheet Agricultural Economics
Within Season Cash Price Range: Ohio Valley • 95/96 – 2.52 • 96/97 – 1.25 • 97/98 – 0.97 • 98/99 – 0.55 • 99/00 – 0.81 • 00/01 – 0.73 • 01/02 – 0.91 • 02/03 – 0.65 • 03/04 – 1.14 • 04/05 – 0.65
Corn Marketing • Local basis levels highly variable, too much corn in some areas – too little elsewhere • Historically large LDP’s/MLG’s, especially if early export activity is light • Should have big recovery in cash market – strong domestic use and exports • Dec. 06 contract should challenge $2.50-$2.75 area next spring/summer – will help “old” May, July and Sep contracts some • Cash prices likely at lows now • Current spread between Dec and July (28 cents) + 50 to 60 cent basis gain = 78-88 cent gross return to storage from harvest to June (9 mos.) from storage hedge • Store some “naked” • Write “Covered Calls” on a portion of stored corn ($2.30 July @ 15 cents today) • Put corn under loan – use 60 day “lock-in” on repayment rate
U.S. Soybean Yield Agricultural Economics
U.S. Soybean Acres & Production Agricultural Economics
U.S., Brazil & Argentina: Soybean Production Agricultural Economics
U.S. Soybean Use Agricultural Economics
Soybean Marketing • Futures market should be past harvest low • If South American crop is record large could retest lows next February • If South America has a serious production problem prices much higher • Could be fight for acres in U.S. next spring: corn vs. soybeans • Basis should make a large post-harvest recovery • Storage profitable (how long?) • Market is offering more to store corn than soybeans • Demand for soy-diesel is already a market factor • China demand for U.S. soybeans crucial
U.S. Wheat Acres & Production Agricultural Economics
U.S. Wheat Use Agricultural Economics
Wheat Marketing • Global wheat supplies down from last season’s record • U.S. has largest supply of best quality • Time of year for wheat prices to improve • FSU has a lot of wheat to sell • India may import wheat for first time in 6 years • High cost of nitrogen for next year’s corn crop may have added to winter wheat acres planted this fall • U.S. carryover stocks fully adequate • Price wheat anytime it is over $3.70 – both 05 and expected 06 crop • Don’t let price drop below $3.50 without “covering” a major portion of expected 06 production