Posted on 07/01/2011 12:51:13 PM PDT by Kaslin
Grain futures are sharply lower across the board as traders had positioned themselves for shortages because of Midwest flooding and increasing demand from emerging markets and China.
Instead, corn stocks were 11 percent bigger than analysts expected and a bumper crop could be on the way according to the report.
Please consider Grain markets plunge on US acres, stocks
The U.S. corn supply is far larger than thought and a bumper crop could be on the way, the Agriculture Department said on Thursday in a report that shocked traders and shoved grain markets sharply lower.Grain Futures
Farmers defied expectations by planting significantly more corn acres despite rain and floods, and sky-high prices curbed demand which left June 1 stockpiles 11 percent larger than traders had predicted.
The dramatic turnaround from fears of bare-bones supplies could signal comfortable supply levels for the coming year and ease fears about high world food prices.
"American producers stepped up," [USDA's] Vilsack told Reuters Insider.
At the Chicago Board of Trade, corn for July delivery was down 10 percent, or 72 cents per bushel, at $6.26 in morning trade, and deferred contracts were locked down the limit of 30 cents per bushel. The July contract is in its delivery period and trading without limits.
July wheat was down 8 percent, or 49 cents, to $5.92-1/4. July soybeans were down 1 percent, or 19 cents, to $13.15-1/4.
Red-hot demand from corn exporters, livestock feeders and processors had been expected to consume every bushel grown in 2010 and eat into reserves, but the higher stocks number was a sign that demand has been rationed.
"We planted more acres than the trade had thought earlier in the year because we sent the signal to plant," said analyst Don Roose of U.S. Commodities. "The other thing was, we did find a way to slow down usage."
The USDA said the corn stockpile was 3.67 billion bushels on June 1, and it pegged plantings at 92.28 million acres. With normal weather and yields, a record-large crop could be harvested.
The soybean stockpile was 4 percent larger than anticipated by analysts, although plantings were 2 percent smaller. The soybean crop would still be the third-largest on record, but supplies are expected to run tight for another year.
Wheat stocks were 4 percent larger than traders expected and plantings were down marginally.
The USDA reports imply that corn growers would harvest 13.5 billion bushels of corn, which would be a record, and 3.2 billion bushels of soybeans, which would be the third-largest on record. Both estimates are Reuters' calculations and assume normal weather conditions and yields.
A mammoth crop would fatten the corn stockpile to nearly 1 billion bushels, but soybeans would run tight through fall 2012.
Such bumper crops are a national blessing from God.
That’s good to know. Gives the wallet a bit of a break. Of course just like pulling the trigger that got OBL, Hussein will claim full credit of sowing and harvesting the crops.
When you consider the amount of agricultural acreage in the US that has been flooded this year, this is pretty amazing. Or at least *I* find it so.
Of course just like pulling the trigger that got OBL, Hussein will claim full credit of sowing and harvesting the crops.
I’m waiting for Barry’s propaganda minister (press secretary) to trumpet about The One’s 54 consecutive holes in one on the golf course, followed by breaking the world record in track cycling for the hour riding his metrosexual sidewalk cruiser bike.
More proof that the major factor negatively affecting production of any product in the US is the federal government interfering in the free market system.
Americans will respond to market forces much better than a centralized socialist government trying to manipulate business, industry and agriculture to advance a socialist agenda.
“Such bumper crops are a national blessing from God.”
That is not an understatement... wow, what a surprise.
I’d be cautious. One of the houses of Congress recently voted against continuing corn subsidies, and corn went down a little. But the generalizations extrapolated to other commodities are obviously more than a little loose and reckless. And he’s obviously backwards on oil. ...little Goldman-ism, perhaps?
But...but...I thought the "moneyed interests" were "deliberately sabotaging" the economy to hurt poor widdle Bawwy?
same here in the San Joaquin valley in CA. The water was restricted by the gov’t - so God sent a HUGE blessing in the form of rain - 300% normal levels. I love it!
Where will all that corn go?
This may interest you.
he he. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of einsteins.
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