Markets - General
The onset of drought and disease are causing growing concerns about the size of the U.S. corn and soybean crops this year. Analysts caution while the crops may be going backward in terms of yield, it’s possible USDA actually raises its yield estimates in the September report.
According to the latest USDA data released from the U.S. Meat Export Federation, beef exports to China dropped 70% in April and pork exports fell 35%. With trade talks ongoing, there is optimism for the remainder of the year.
CFTC says expanding trading hours would ensure markets remain vibrant, while commercial hedgers and commodity brokers who work with farmers say it will fuel volatility and won’t make the markets stronger.
Ocean shipping transports about 80% of global trade — from coal and corn to bananas and cement. The revisions tackle major concerns from the global maritime industry that feared virtually every cargo carrier could face steep, stacking fees.
Even with an improved outlook,Ever.Ag chief economist Lee Schulz says his forecast points to another tough reality: producers won’t get back to break-even levels on their balance sheets until August of this year, a testament to just how steep losses were in 2023.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins confirms those payments will be released before the March 21 current deadline in an exclusive interview with Farm Journal on Thursday morning. She also outlined the timing of the $1 billion just announced to combat avian flu.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins kicked off the 2025 Top Producer Summit on Tuesday morning, detailing her plan to advocate for trade. ‘We want to find market access for all our products,’ Rollins said.
USMEF and Soy Transportation Coalition leaders were among those weighing in on the decision, which could have cost U.S. farmers and ranchers an estimated $1.4 billion a week.
From a possible trade war to brewing discontent within the country, there are five significant trends poised to shape China in the coming year.
If the funding measure fails, USDA has a contingency plan in place for essential workers and services. The plan would retain a small number of administrative employees to oversee activities including disaster response and cybersecurity should funding lapse.
While bulk grain exports would be largely unaffected, the strike would impact containerized agricultural exports: Soybeans, soybean meal, and other agricultural products exported via containers would be affected.
As agriculture faces multiple challenges, USDA’s latest net farm income forecast is masking the reality for farmers. While livestock margins have improved for 2024, high input costs and below breakeven prices for row crops means margins could be the worst in nearly 20 years.
U.S. Meat Export Federation announces new records for volume and value for pork exports will be achieved in 2024. While not as strong, beef exports are holding their own, led by Mexico purchases.
The contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance is set to expire on Sept. 30. Negotiations between the two parties have stalled, raising concerns about a possible strike starting Oct. 1.
USDA’s current net farm income forecasts show a $90-billion plus drop over the two-year period, making it the largest dollar value loss, adjusted for inflation, that agriculture has ever seen.
China’s soybean imports reached a record high in August 2024, reflecting significant growth in the country’s demand for the oilseed, but meat imports declined.
U.S. corn prices hit a four-year low as the prospect for record corn and soybean crops takes shape in the field. The eroding outlook also appeared in the August Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor.
Here are five steps to ensure a proactive, profitable plan.
EPA’s new model is designed to address previously identified shortfalls in the R&D GREET model and how it calculated lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. The new approach accounts for all emissions from farm to fuel.
The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor is a gauge of economists’ views on the ag economy. While outlooks have grown weaker, it’s the erosion in the future outlook that is sprouting fresh concerns.
Brazil is seeing a sudden shift in weather with heavy rains now forecasted over the next two weeks. While it will bring relief to drought areas, it could cause harvest delays and issues planting the safrinha corn crop.
As pork producers’ potential profits continue to erode this year, some economists say 2023 could be financially worse than 1998, which is unearthing concerns about contraction, restructuring and vertical integration.
![Ag Economists Monthly Monitor - Ag Economy Outlook - Main Article Image - 09-2023 - WEB[34].jpg](https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/dcdb1c6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3500x2338+0+81/resize/250x167!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffj-corp-pub.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fs3fs-public%2F2023-09%2FAg%20Economists%20Monthly%20Monitor%20-%20Ag%20Economy%20Outlook%20-%20Main%20Article%20Image%20-%2009-2023%20-%20WEB%5B34%5D.jpg)
Ag economists’ view on the ag economy is starting to erode. The September Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor shows lower commodity prices, concerns about demand and a negative outlook for China’s economy.
Tyson Foods’ decision to shutter four poultry processing plants, combined with Smithfield Foods announcing the closure 35 Missouri pig farmers, are strong signals that rapid consolidation is already underway.
The July Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor showed several key changes from June including a bigger cut to corn and soybean yields, a drop in corn and soybean prices and more bullish cattle and hog prices.
Cattle feeding margins are rapidly declining as cash cattle prices retreat from spring highs
The National Drought Mitigation Center estimates 67% of corn and 60% of soybeans are still considered to be in drought, a slight improvement from last week when drought covered 70% of corn and 63% of soybeans.