Domestic Demand to Pressure U.S. Corn, Soy, Wheat Stocks as Exports Fade

May 14, 2021

By Mark Weinraub

Strong domestic demand will keep U.S. stockpiles of corn and soybeans near seven-year lows even after farmers harvest the crops they are currently seeding, the government said on Wednesday.

The stocks estimates were in line with market expectations but the report showed that the recent gains in ag commodities, highlighted by soybean futures’ rally to a nearly nine-year high this week, are likely to continue.

“You could make the argument that the market has been undervalued for the last several months,” said Joe Vaclavik, president of Standard Grain.

The U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report also showed that rising demand from the feed sector will push wheat stockpiles to a seven-year low by June 2022 as livestock and poultry producers scramble to find cheaper proteins for their animals’ diets.

Exports were seen falling for corn, soy and wheat versus the prior crop year.

USDA projected that U.S. corn stocks would stand at 1.507 billion bushels by Sept. 1, 2022, up from 1.257 billion bushels expected on Sept. 1, 2021.

Soybean stocks in September 2022 were seen rising just 20 million bushels from 120 million bushels forecast for 2021, according to USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.

The report projected a 4.5% increases in corn usage by ethanol producers in 2021/22 as more of the corn-based fuel is needed for drivers returning to the roads as the COVID-19 pandemic eases. For soybeans, demand from crushers that process soybeans into soymeal for animal feed, was seen up 35 million bushels to 2.225 billion.

Click here to see more...

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.