Corn, and soybean markets surge as USDA reports 2021 planting intentions
As world markets slowly unfurl from the global knot of the COVID-19 pandemic, futures markets for both soybean and corn responded in a powerfully positive manner Wednesday to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Prospective Plantings Report.
The report, conducted by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, reflects producers’ intended acreage for crops across the country based on a survey of about 78,900 farm operations. Within an hour of the report’s publication, soybean prices were up 70 cents a bushel, and corn up 25 cents — the respective market limits for daily price increases on those commodities. Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, described the markets as “running red hot” in the immediate wake of the USDA publication.
Soybeans
In Arkansas, soybeans, the state’s No. 1 crop, rose 6 percent to hit a planned 3 million acres. Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said that acreage forecast may be low. “From talking to soybean producers, I would expect the soybean acreage to be higher than the 3 million acres projected,” Ross said. “Especially if we get some good weather after this week.” Nationally, soybean acreage increased 6 percent, to about 87.6 million acres.
Corn
Arkansas corn saw a substantial increase of 13 percent to 700,000 acres. Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said the rising market prices for corn at the end of 2020 were expected to prompt greater acreage this year. “With good planting weather over the next couple weeks I would think 700,000 acres could be easily achieved,” Kelley said. Nationally, corn acreage gained only 1 percent, rising to about 91.1 million acres.
Ironically, both soybean and corn acreage fell short of industry expectations, Stiles said.
“Ahead of the report, the average industry guess for soybean acres right at 90 million,” Stiles said. The final number was “up 5 from last year, but not the number the trade was expecting.
“U.S. soybean supplies are very tight going into 2021,” he said. “87.6 million does not increase ending stocks. The market emphatically said today it has to reach for more acres. Similarly, 91.4 million corn acres is not expected to increase ending stocks either.
“There's a fierce competition now between corn and soybeans for acres,” Stiles said. “Soybeans really need to pick up 2.5 million more acres to increase stocks just marginally in 2021.”
Rice
Planned rice acreage declined significantly, both in Arkansas and across the United States. In Arkansas, growers reported intended acres at about 1.25 million acres, a 14 percent drop from 2020’s approximately 1.46 million acres. Nationally, planned rice acres fell 11 percent, to about 2.7 million acres. Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said the decline in Arkansas rice acreage met industry expectations. He said he had expected acreage to be down 10 percent at a minimum.
“Further decreases would depend on rotational crops and prices,” he said. “A good April planting window will be key to keeping the acres in the report, as planting delays will likely give way to more soybeans given the current price situation there.”
Futures market prices for corn, cotton and soybean all rose 32, 32 and 38 percent in year-over-year comparisons, respectively. Rice futures also rose year-over-year, but at a more modest 8 percent. Overall, crop acreage in Arkansas rose about 1.4 percent over 2020 acreage.
