Corn

In today’s report, final corn production increased 48 million bushels on a 0.5 bushel per acre increase in yield and 100,000 acre increase in harvested acres. This was 78 million bushels higher than the average pre report trade guess. The yield of 147.2 bushels per acre was a 0.5 bushel increase from the last estimate and 0.8 higher than the average trade guess. The only adjustment in usage was a 50 million bushel increase in exports reflecting a strong pace of sales and reduced prospects for Argentina. Continue reading →

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for a safe and profitable 2012! Cotton prices are up while corn, soybeans, and wheat prices are down for the week. The March U.S. Dollar Index before the close on Friday was at 81.58, up 1.05 for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average before the close was up 168 points for the week at 12,386. Crude Oil was trading before the close at 101.54 a barrel, up 2.71 a barrel. The unemployment rate was reported today at 8.5%, the lowest in nearly 3 years. Weather concerns in South America still dominated market action this week. Continue reading →

This will be the last crop marketing comments for 2011 and I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a merry and safe Christmas and Holiday season. Markets will be closed on Monday, December 26 and January 2. Prices are through Thursday, December 22. Corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat prices are all up for the week. The March U.S. Dollar Index before the close on Thursday was at 80.26, down 0.57 for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average before the close was up 302 points for the week at 12,168. Crude Oil was trading before the close at 99.56 a barrel, up 5.81 a barrel regaining last week’s losses. Continue reading →

Corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat prices are all up for the week. The December U.S. Dollar Index before the close on Friday was at 78.79, down 1.04 for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average before the close was up 823 points for the week at 12,055. Crude Oil was trading before the close at 100.33 a barrel, up 3.56 a barrel. Outside influences may have affected more the Dow this week than commodity prices, but at least prices are up for the week. A surprise coordinated move by six major central banks around the world to provide liquidity at very low interest rates was put in place to avoid a meltdown in the euro. Continue reading →

Corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat prices are all down for the week. The December U.S. Dollar Index was trading before the close at 78.17, up 1.04 since last Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average before the close was trading down 307 points for the week at 11,847. Crude Oil was trading before the close at 97.23 a barrel, down 1.76 a barrel since last Friday. Concerns over European financial instability and possibly ill effects of the implosion of the brokerage firm MF Global weighed heavy on the commodity market this week. Even large exports of cotton and soybeans to China found a way to have a negative spin put on them. Continue reading →

Corn, soybeans, and wheat prices are down with cotton prices mixed for the week. The December U.S. Dollar Index was trading before the close at 77.09, down 0.07 since last Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average before the close was trading up 270 points for the day and 182 points for the week at 12,165. Crude Oil was trading before the close at 99.01 a barrel, up 4.72 a barrel since last Friday. USDA released their monthly supply and demand reports on November 9. Continue reading →

Corn:  In today’s report, USDA updated corn production by lowering the nationwide yield from 148.1 bushels per acre to 146.7 bushels per acre, the lowest since 2003. The average trade guess was 147.9 bushels. Overall production was reduced 123 million bushels from the October estimate to 12.310 billion bushels. This still is the 4th largest production on record. Continue reading →