06/30 07:35 CDT US plants second-largest corn crop, record soy
6-30-2009 07:35 US plants second-largest corn crop, record soy
WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) – U.S. farmers planted their
second-largest corn acreage since 1946, the government said Tuesday,
surprising traders who had expected the cold, wet spring would lead to more
land being switched to shorter-maturing crops.
Corn plantings rose 1 percent from last year to 87.035 million acres,
the U.S. Agriculture Department said, up from earlier estimates of 84.986
million acres and above trade estimates that averaged 83.961 million
acres.
Planting got off to a slow start. “In late May, however, drier
conditions allowed farmers to make rapid progress,” USDA said, noting 97
percent of intended corn acres had been planted by the time of its survey,
done during the first two weeks of June.
The sowings imply corn production of 12.3 billion bushels, based on
yield projections the USDA made earlier this month. That would be the
second-largest U.S. corn crop on record, after 2007′s 13.038 billion
bushels.
As expected, farmers planted a record area to soybeans this spring.
USDA said farmers seeded 77.483 million acres of soybeans, up 2 percent
from last year, implying production could reach a record 3.3 billion
bushels.
The soybean plantings were below average trade estimates ahead of the
report of 78.121 million acres.
The large new soy crop will replenish U.S. supplies drained as China
went on a buying spree at a time when weather problems in South America
sidelined competing suppliers.
USDA pegged June 1 soy stocks at 597 million bushels, down 12 percent
from the same time last year but above average trade expectations of 585
million bushels.
The agency also forecast wheat acres at 59.775 million acres, down 5
percent from last year but above trade expectations of 58.243 million
acres.
Cotton plantings were estimated at 9.05 million acres, also topping
trade expectations.
(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by John Picinich)
((roberta.rampton@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging:
roberta.rampton.reuters.com@reuters.net; 202 898 8376))
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Keywords: USA CROPS/

06/30 07:32a CST DJ USDA Report: Summary For June Acreage, Grain Stocks
CHICAGO (Dow Jones)–The following table is provided as a service to Dow
Jones Newswires subscribers in conjunction with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s acreage and quarterly grain stocks reports. The reports were
released Tuesday morning.
Estimates are in millions of acres for the 2009 U.S. acreage report and in
billions of bushels for U.S. grain and soybean stocks as of June 1.

U.S. Acreage

USDA
USDA March 31 2008
Tuesday Average Range Plantings Seedings

Corn 87.035 84.158 82.474-86.000 84.986 85.982

Soybeans 77.483 78.305 75.300-79.631 76.024 75.718

Spring Wheat 13.772 13.102 12.826-13.404 13.304 14.135

Durum 2.555 2.403 2.300-2.500 2.445 2.731

All Wheat 59.775 58.337 57.600-58.800 58.638 63.147

Cotton 9.054 8.800 8.300-9.000 8.811 9.470

U.S. Grain Stocks

2009 Mar 1 2008 June 1
USDA USDA USDA
Tuesday Average Range Stocks Stocks

Corn 4.266 4.190 4.064-4.321 6.958 4.028

Soybeans 0.597 0.586 0.559-0.620 1.302 0.676

Wheat 0.667 0.670 0.640-0.687 1.037 0.306

-By Debbie Carlson, Dow Jones Newswires; 312-750-4072;
debbie.carlson@dowjones.com

06/29 09:44a CST DJ USDA Report: Recap For June Acreage, Grain Stocks
CHICAGO (Dow Jones)–The following table is provided as a service to Dow
Jones Newswires subscribers in conjunction with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s acreage and quarterly grain stocks reports. The reports are
scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT) Tuesday.
Estimates are in millions of acres for the 2009 U.S. acreage report and in
billions of bushels for U.S. grain and soybean stocks as of June 1.

U.S. Acreage

USDA
USDA March 31 2008
Tuesday Average Range Plantings Seedings

Corn _______ 84.158 82.474-86.000 84.986 85.982

Soybeans _______ 78.305 75.300-79.631 76.024 75.718

Spring Wheat _______ 13.102 12.826-13.404 13.304 14.135

Durum _______ 2.403 2.300-2.500 2.445 2.731

All Wheat _______ 58.337 57.600-58.800 58.638 63.147

Cotton _______ 8.800 8.300-9.000 8.811 9.470

U.S. Grain Stocks

2009 Mar 1 2008 June 1
USDA USDA USDA
Tuesday Average Range Stocks Stocks

Corn _______ 4.190 4.064-4.321 6.958 4.028

Soybeans _______ 0.586 0.559-0.620 1.302 0.676

Wheat _______ 0.670 0.640-0.687 1.037 0.306

By Debbie Carlson; Dow Jones Newswires; 312-750-4072;
debbie.carlson@dowjones.com

From Agriculture Online
Fewer soybean acres? One firm says yes

6/26/2009, 4:14 PM CDT

Based on satellite imagery and other forms of “intelligence,” one firm says U.S. soybean acres will be lower than expected when USDA releases its June Acreage report on Tuesday.

Lanworth, an agricultural intelligence company, estimates lower-than-expected soybean acreage in advance of Tuesday’s USDA reports. After two years delivering timely and accurate acreage and production estimates for corn, soybeans and wheat, company officials say Lanworth’s satellite-enabled computer models are softening the market impact of the USDA’s periodic intentions, plantings and production reports.

This year, Lanworth officials say the company’s plantings estimate — one that suggests that the world soybean supply will remain very tight — runs counter to many analysts’ expectations of the the biggest soybean crop in history.
Continue article

“The world is running short on soybeans,” says Nick Kouchoukos, vice president of information services at Lanworth, in a company report. “As an independent and proven source for supply intelligence, our clients can account for supply constraints as they are determined, rather than waiting for the USDA’s estimates or trusting less scientific methodologies.”

Lanworth also assessed corn and spring wheat acreage. It estimated an increase in corn plantings consistent with its March report. Spring wheat plantings are down from last year, but up slightly from the intended plantings in all states.

Officials say the firm uses three elements to arrive at its projections: Real-time satellite feeds delivered twice daily, extensive field sampling and sophisticated computer models of soil conditions, farming practices, weather and many other factors.

Plus storms are possibly brewing in the tropics, pay attention to OJ!

Tropical weather as of Friday seemed to be heating up over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. A tropical wave was triggering widespread showers and thunderstorms over Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and a broad swath of open water. Computer weather forecasts hinted that this weather system could become an important player over the Gulf of Mexico during the coming week.

Forward to Sunday and the picture is less clear. The tropical wave is still there triggering thunderstorms as its center shifts northwestward into the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. What is lacking is obvious organization and any strong indication hinting at upcoming development on the part of computer forecast models.

In light of this, the tropical weather situation over the Gulf of Mexico north of the Yucatan will continue to bear watching during the early to midweek time frame. Significant development is still possible.

Whether or not a well-marked tropical weather system takes shape over the Gulf, some impact will be likely along the United States coast bordering the Gulf of Mexico late in the week. A shift to relatively unsettled weather having showers and thunderstorms will likely take place along much of the coast.

Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews

A situation has developed in the tropics which will need to be watched through the weekend. A large area of convection over the western Caribbean is in a spot where tropical storms like to form this time of year.

The prime breeding zones for tropical storms in June are the Gulf of Mexico and the western Caribbean. Over these very warm seas, it doesn’t take much to trigger tropical development. The other prerequisites are strong convection and a favorable upper-level wind field. The central and eastern Atlantic typically does not activate until August.

The low pressure system of concern will run into the northern Yucatan this weekend then emerge over the southern Gulf of Mexico on Monday. In this location, the upper-level flow will be somewhat favorable for development, so we could have a tropical storm on our hands within the next 72 hours.

For now let’s figure about a 40 percent chance that something will come of this. AccuWeather.com will keep you posted.

Story by AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.

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Kevin Kerr
Crude ends lower as U.S. dollar rallies
5:13pm Today – By Polya Lesova

The dollar was the biggest driver today both to the upside and the downside,” said Kevin Kerr, president of Kerr Trading International. The inventory numbers for crude were quite bullish, but overall the builds in gasoline and distillate [supplies] combined with the late dollar rally pushed oil prices back to the downside,” Kerr said in emailed comments.

Oil falls to three-week low on World Bank outlook

4:42pm 6/22/09 – By Moming Zhou
Last week’s drop in gasoline prices is also having an impact [in oil prices],” said Kevin Kerr, president of Kerr Trading International.
Distillates speak volumes about economy

3:27am 6/22/09 – By Myra P. Saefong
Kevin Kerr, president at Kerr Trading International, expects winter heating oil could run short by the fall as refiners make less diesel and as the whole demand picture increases.

Rain makes grain but too much rain is a pain

The oppressive heat baking the nation’s midsection will help fuel another round of dangerous thunderstorms across the Midwest today. Cooler air following a storm system will slice into the hot, humid air to spark the thunderstorms.

Today is starting with locally strong thunderstorms over the mid-Mississippi Valley. More thunderstorms will erupt this afternoon from Nebraska to southern Wisconsin and central Illinois. These intense thunderstorms will then press southeastward through the mid-Mississippi Valley tonight.

Be sure to seek immediate shelter if a storm-related warning is issued for where you reside or are traveling through. The strongest thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail and blinding downpours. A few tornadoes may touch down and cause destruction. The tornado threat will be greatest over Nebraska and Iowa.

Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski

Grains and Cotton
The midwestern U.S. is expecting hotter temperatures this week, but after a wet spring, that can be good for corn and beans. December corn fell 14 cents to $4.055.

The USDA said that last week’s export inspections of:
Corn totaled 38.1 million bushels, down 4% from a year ago.
Soybeans totaled 13.4 million bushels, up 15% from a year ago.
Wheat totaled 13.3 million bushels, down 27% from a year ago.
November soybeans closed down 25 cents at $9.81.

After the close, the USDA said that:
70% of the corn crop was rated good to excellent, the same as a week ago.
91% of the soybean crop was planted and 67% of it was rated good to excellent, up from 66% a week ago.
77% of the spring wheat was rated good to excellent, up from 75% a week ago.
20% of the winter wheat was harvested.
44% of the cotton crop was rated good to excellent, down from 45% a week ago.

Soybean concerns! Learn what farmers are watching! www.kerralert.com

From Agweb.com

And really bad news for wheat!
www.kerralert.com

from Agweb.com

“When one door closes, another one opens…but standing in the hallway can be hell. You just have to persevere!”

Paul Tudor Jones – Failure Speech June 2009