United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Pays Dividends to American Farmers and Exporters

The United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) entered into force on May 15, 2012, laying the foundation for a surge in U.S. agricultural exports. Since 2012, U.S. agricultural exports to Colombia nearly tripled from $1.1 billion to $2.9 billion in 2018. Despite its geographic proximity to major U.S. competitors Brazil and Argentina, Colombia, the third-largest economy in South America, purchases half of its agricultural imports from the United States. Preferential access from CTPA and a strong Colombian economy have allowed the United States to increase its market share from 19 percent prior to CTPA, to 50 percent in 2018. Changing demographics, a growing middle-class, and consumer trends toward more modern retail outlets is expected to keep demand strong into the future for high-quality U.S. agricultural exports.

Colombian Macro-economic Trends and Changing Demographics

In addition to CPTA, political stability and a dynamic economy have contributed to Colombia becoming the United States’ 12th-largest destination for agricultural exports, up from...

USDA Announces Support for Farmers Impacted by Unjustified Retaliation and Trade Disruption

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take several actions to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation and trade disruption. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a relief strategy to support American agricultural producers while the Administration continues to work on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets in the long run to help American farmers compete globally. Specifically, the President has authorized USDA to provide up to $16 billion in programs, which is in line with the estimated impacts of unjustified retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods and other trade disruptions. These programs will assist agricultural producers while President Trump works to address long-standing...

Grain Futures Soar on Delayed Plantings

In the latest Crop Progress report, planting progress continues at a slower than expected pace—causing concern for traders and seeing corn futures up 12 to 13 cents per bushel Tuesday morning.

The USDA reported corn plantings at 30 percent completion as of Sunday, May 12. That’s less than half of what the normal 5-year average rate is at this point in the season. It’s also only a 7 percent increase from the previous week.

Rain and cool weather in the major production areas has hindered planting activities so far this season.

Emergence is also lower than expected, currently at 10 percent. Last year at this time...

Planting Progress Lags for Corn and Soybeans

In the latest Crop Progress report, the USDA shows corn plantings across the 18 primary production states is currently just 23 percent complete, which is half the normal progress made by this time over the last 5 years.

Planting progress is well-below expectations for this point in the season, having been hindered by rains throughout the Midwest where much of the crop is produced. Every state surveyed has reported lower progress rates than their respective 5-year averages.

Corn emergence is currently at 6 percent, also less than half the average rate. Seven of the 18 production states have yet to report any emerging corn.

Meanwhile, 6 percent of soybeans have been planted so far this season—also...

ARS Study Helps Farmers Weigh the Merits of Soybean Pressing Methods 

Results from a joint study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Drexel University (DU) scientists will help farmers better weigh the merits of pressing soybeans on-site rather than transporting their crop to a crush (processing) facility, where the oil and meal can be extracted for sale.

Second only to corn in terms of crop value and total U.S. acres planted, soybeans are the chief source of vegetable oil for cooking and other food uses. Meal left over from pressing the beans is sold as high-protein animal feed. There are also nonfood uses of soy oil, including inks, lubricants, paints and biodiesel fuel.

In some instances, soybean growers are opting to press the oil right on the farm rather than send their beans to a dedicated crush facility. This allows them to ...

Rabobank: Global Food Price Stability in 2019 Threatened by Trade Wars, Disease and El Niño

A “melting pot” of risks – including US trade war with China, disease and extreme weather – threaten global food price stability next year, according to research from Rabobank, the specialist food and agribusiness bank.

In its annual Outlook reports, which analyse the prospects for more than 15 agricultural commodities, meat and seafood, Rabobank says that while the global food price environment remains relatively stable, ongoing geopolitical tension, the threat of El Niño weather system and diseases affecting livestock bring great uncertainty to the outlook for 2019.

Stefan Vogel, head of agri commodity markets at Rabobank and report co-author, said: “The agri commodity price environment may be relatively stable currently, but it’s difficult to remember a time there were so many threats to...

Commodity Leaders Join Forces on Sustainability Research

Pork, Soybean and Corn Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainability Research

The National Pork Board (NPB), United Soybean Board (USB) and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a sustainability research platform that will benefit all three organizations and their producers. This research program will include the sharing of completed research, coordination on current and planned research and define ways to share and communicate results with each organization’s members.

Leadership from the three commodity groups agree that it is prudent to consider specific ways in which they might work together more effectively to ensure alignment and collaboration in sustainability research and how the results can and will be communicated and shared...

Perdue AgriBusiness Chooses Tradepoint Atlantic for New Organic Grain Facility

Perdue AgriBusiness, a division of Perdue Farms, announced today a $30 million investment to open an organic grain receiving and storage facility at Tradepoint Atlantic in eastern Baltimore County to meet the rising demand for organic feed ingredients for Perdue Foods and other companies in the region. The facility will also include grain and oilseed processing/milling and support more than 25 new jobs.

“Tradepoint Atlantic at the Port of Baltimore is ideally located to receive grain and supply organic customers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Dick Willey, president, Perdue AgriBusiness. “We work directly with local farmers and traders in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia to source organic grain and soybeans. This new complex will be a key part of an integrated supply chain that enables us to increase business and reduce the cost while maintaining the quality of our organic products.”

“We’re on a mission to make organic chicken more accessible to more consumers, but the limiting factor is... 

Harvest Activities Delayed in Some Areas Due to Recent Rains and Early Snow

A wet Autumn so far in parts of the Midwest, along with some very early snow for the season, has hampered harvest efforts as of late.

According to the latest Crop Progress report, the USDA estimates the corn harvest to be 39 percent complete, which is still ahead of the 5-year average, but the rate has slowed in the last week. States falling behind in harvest activities include Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota.

The soybean harvest is notably behind schedule, with only 38 percent completed as of October 14. That compares to the 5-year average rate of 53 percent by this time. Iowa, usually 51 percent underway at this point in the season, reports only...

October Harvest Season Ramps Up

The 2018 corn harvest is now 26 percent underway, almost 10 points above the average pace over the last 5 years.

Leading the pack in the latest Crop Progress report is North Carolina, showing harvest activities for corn at 83 percent, while Texas follows up with 70 percent, followed by 65 percent in Missouri.

Looking at top producing states, the Iowa corn harvest is up to 11 percent, while Illinois reports 48 percent, and Nebraska shows 17 percent.

All 18 primary corn production states are...

Corn Conditions Surpass Year Ago Ratings as Harvest Picks Up

The corn harvest is now 9 percent underway for the 2018 crop season, just ahead of past progress benchmarks.

The USDA reports in the latest Crop Progress report that 54 percent of corn has reached maturity, which is well ahead of the 36 percent 5-year average for this week. The condition of the corn crop is unchanged in the latest report, with 68 percent rated good to excellent. A year ago, only 61 percent made the GTE category rating.

Corn futures are down 4 to 5 cents per bushel so far Tuesday.

The soybean harvest has also begun in the week ending September 16. Currently 6 percent underway, the harvest is progressing slightly ahead of the 5-year average rate...

The 2018 Corn Harvest Is Officially Underway

The week ending September 9^th marked the first week of measurable corn harvest in the U.S. for 2018.

The USDA reports 5 percent of this year’s corn crop has been harvested so far, which is on par with a year ago at this time, and two points ahead of the 5-year average. Texas reports 63 percent of their corn crop has been harvested, while North Carolina has harvested 43 percent. Eight of the 18 primary corn producing states have yet to kick off harvest activities.

Overall, corn reaching maturity is up to 35 percent, compared to...

Late Season Heat Wave Boosting Crop Development in Parts of Corn Belt

In the latest Crop Progress report, corn conditions were adjusted slightly with 67 percent now in good to excellent condition, down a point from the previous week. Corn rated in fair gained that point, now totaling 21 percent.

Corn in the dough stage of growth is nearly complete at 96 percent, which is also ahead of the 5-year average rate of 91 percent.  Corn dented is up to 75 percent, beating the average pace by 15 percentage points.

Corn reaching the mature stage is reported at 22 percent, double that of the 5-year average. A late season heat wave in the eastern Corn Belt is helping to hasten summer crop maturation, according to USDA weather reports.

So far this morning, corn futures are trading barely lower, down up to half a cent per bushel...

Late Summer Crop Growth Looks Positive

It’s the final week of August and summer crops continue to excel through key growth stages.

In the latest Crop Progress report, corn condition ratings were nearly unchanged, with 68 percent remaining in good to excellent condition. That compares with 62 percent in the category a year ago at this time.

As corn in the dough stage nears completion at 92 percent, corn dented is up to 61 percent—nearly 20 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. In addition, the USDA provided initial figures for corn reaching maturity, currently at 10 percent. This is double the rate of past progress benchmarks.

Soybean conditions were altered just slightly in the latest week...

Winter Wheat Harvest Near Completion; Spring Wheat Conditions Vastly Improved from Year Ago

Corn Conditions Fall Slightly, Progress Still Ahead of Schedule

In the latest Crop Progress report, corn conditions were downgraded slightly with 68 percent now considered to be in good to excellent condition, down from 70 percent the previous week. The poor to very poor category gained those two points, now a combined 12 percent.

The USDA reports dry weather returning to the southwestern Corn Belt, following rainfall that had helped ease drought conditions and stressed crops.

Nonetheless, growth stages remain above past progress benchmarks for this year’s corn crop. Corn in the dough stage was 85 percent completed, compared to the 5-year average of 72 percent. Corn dented was up to 44 percent, 18 percentage points ahead of the average rate. Next week, we should have initial figures for matured corn...

Crop Conditions Adjusted Slightly, Record High Corn and Soybean Yields Expected in Some States

In the latest Crop Progress report, corn conditions were adjusted to show 70 percent in good to excellent condition, down from 71 percent the week prior. 20 percent remains in fair condition, while a combined 10 percent is rated mostly poor to very poor.

In addition to crop conditions, the USDA also has released forecasts for the 2018 production year. The soybean crop is expected to be a record high this year, with production up 4 percent from 2017. Corn production is expected to decrease slightly.

The soybean harvest area is expected to be 88.9 million acres, with yields to average at 51.6 bushels per acre, up 2.5 bushels from last year, with a handful of states expected to... 

US and EU Resolve to Work Together on Trade

President Trump met with President Juncker in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, announcing the initiative to work together to ease trade barriers between the two global powerhouses.

In a briefing in the Rose Garden, President Trump said, “The United States and the European Union together count for more than 830 million citizens and more than 50 percent of the global GDP.  In other words, together, we’re more than 50 percent of trade.  If we team up, we can make our planet a better, more secure, and more prosperous place. Already today, the United States and the European Union have a $1 trillion bilateral trade relationship — the largest economic relationship anywhere in the world.  We want to further strengthen this trade relationship to the benefit of all American and European citizens. This is why we agreed today, first of all, to work together toward zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsidies on non-auto industrial goods.” The announcement was met with applause.

He continued, “We will also work to reduce barriers and increase trade in services, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical products, as well as soybeans.  Soybeans is a big deal... 

USDA Assists Farmers Impacted by Unjustified Retaliation

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take several actions to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a short-term relief strategy to protect agricultural producers while the Administration works on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets in the long run to help American farmers compete globally. Specifically, USDA will authorize up to $12 billion in programs, which is in line with the estimated $11 billion impact of the unjustified retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods. These programs will assist agricultural producers to meet the costs of disrupted markets.

“This is a short-term solution to allow President Trump time to work on long-term trade deals to benefit agriculture...