The fundamentals f the corn market continue to point towards higher and higher prices. I understand that many people had a hard time forcing themselves to buy new crop corn $6 a bushel. Unfortunately, $7 is here and $7.50 is not far off. The corn market is experiencing a "perfet storm." The short list of contributing factors are:1) Tight ending stocks leave us very dependent on this year's crop.2) Increasing global (Asian) demand for red meat funnels more corn to feed.3) Declining Dollar increases global demand for our exports.4) The late start to this year's crop will have a material effect on yields.5) Growing position of index trader positions in the Commitment of Traders Report.
The following article on Bloomberg goes into more detail without having to source each piece of the puzzle individually. If anyone wants more detail than it provides, please contact me directly.
Corn Deluged by Iowa, Illinois Rain Cuts Yields, Boosts Prices
By Jeff Wilson
June 10 (Bloomberg) -- Rainstorms sweeping the biggest corn states in the U.S. are damaging a crop that's already failing to keep pace with global demand for food, fuel and cattle feed.
Farms in Iowa were drenched with 5.78 inches of rain last month, or 37 percent more than normal, according to :S:d1">Harry Hillaker, the climatologist for the biggest corn-growing state. The 22.23 inches that fell on Illinois from January through May was 45 percent above normal and the third-wettest on record, according to data compiled by the state.
Corn rose to a record $6.73 a bushel yesterday in Chicago, extending this year's gain to 44 percent. Yields in the U.S. may fall 10 percent short of government forecasts, the biggest drop in 13 years, and send prices up another 34 percent as storms delay planting, stunt growth and leech fertilizer from the soil, said :S:d1">Terry Jones, who farms more than 6,000 acres near Williamsburg, Iowa.
``It's already a disaster,'' said :S:d1">Palle Pedersen, an agronomist at Iowa State University in Ames.
About 60 percent of the crop in the U.S., the world's largest grower and exporter, was in good or excellent condition as of June 8, down from 63 percent the previous week, the Department of Agriculture said yesterday in a report. A year earlier, 77 percent got the highest rating. Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Indiana, the five top-producing states, reported declines.
`Midwest Flooding'
Check USDA Grain Reports
Rainfall across the Midwest was as much as four times normal over the past 60 days, according to National Weather Service data. In some places, storms dumped 15 inches more than average, the data show. The increase is equal to the typical rainfall some fields receive in a year, said :S:d1">Roger Elmore, who is also an agronomist at Iowa State.
``The Midwest flooding is widespread and that has already hurt the crop,'' delaying development and drowning some immature plants, said Jones, who is vice president of Russell Consulting Group in Panora, Iowa. ``We could see national yields fall at least 10 percent, even with normal growing conditions the remainder of the year.''
Spring planting was delayed by rain and unusually cool weather that left fields too muddy for tractors and limited growth. U.S. corn planting was 51 percent completed by May 11, less than 71 percent the previous year, USDA data show.
The yield potential for corn drops unless plants emerge from the ground before the end of May in the Midwest, according to a University of Illinois study. The USDA estimated 78 percent had emerged as of June 1, compared with 92 percent a year earlier. To produce the best yields, corn needs to pollinate before the arrival of summer weather.
$8 a Bushel
``The crop is in serious trouble,'' said :S:d1">Jim Stephens, president of Farmers National Commodities Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska, who helps manage more than 3,600 farms across the Midwest. He said corn will top $8 a bushel this year.
The weather is endangering a U.S. crop already expected by the USDA to decline from last year's record harvest after farmers planted 8.1 percent fewer acres. Global inventories may fall to the lowest levels in 24 years by Aug. 31, the USDA said.
U.S. farmers shifted to soybeans and wheat because the costs of corn is high relative to other crops. The USDA will update its yield and inventory estimates today in Washington and its estimate of U.S. planted acreage on June 30.
Demand for corn to feed livestock jumped 24 percent in the past decade as economic growth boosted incomes and meat consumption in developing countries. The prices of corn, soybeans, rice and wheat surged to recor
ds this year as food demand outpaced production. In the U.S., the cost of corn was increased by government subsidies and mandates for ethanol.
Rising Prices
In the top eight producing states, which grew 75 percent of last year's crop, there is more acreage at risk than in 1993, when yields plunged 23 percent, said :S:d1">Chip Flory, editor of the Professional Farmers of American advisory in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Corn futures for July delivery rose 6.5 cents, or 1 percent, to $6.5725 a bushel yesterday on the Chicago Board of Trade, after touching a record high for a third straight session.
The saturation of soil moisture is in the 98th percentile of the highest levels in the past 40 years from South Dakota to Ohio, according to government data, increasing the risk of reduced yields from the loss of nitrogen fertilizer, Iowa State University's Elmore said. The saturated soils are depleting fertilizer at a rate of as much as 4 percent a day, he said.
Farmers were expected to produce about 153.9 bushels an acre on average, up from 151.1 bushels last year, the USDA said May 9. Instead, yields probably will drop below 139 bushels and may fall even more, said Jones, the Iowa farmer.
To contact the reporter on this story: :S:d1">Jeff Wilsonjwilson29@bloomberg.net
