Feb 2012 WASDE Report from USDA

February 2012 World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates
(World Agriculture Outlook Board, USDA)

WHEAT: 
U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2011/12 are projected lower this month.  Exports are raised 25 million bushels supported by the stronger-than-expected pace of sales and shipments, particularly for competitively priced feed-quality wheat.  Projected exports of Soft Red Winter and White wheat are each raised 15 million bushels on strong demand from Mexico and South Korea.  Exports are also projected higher for Hard Red Winter wheat, up 5 million bushels, based on sales and shipments to date.  Projected Hard Red Spring wheat exports are lowered 10 million bushels as strong domestic premiums for spring wheat continue to limit demand.  Ending stocks for all wheat are projected 25 million bushels lower at 845 million.  Based on prices reported to date and the lower expected carryout, the 2011/12 projected season-average farm price is raised 20 cents on the bottom end of the range to $7.15 to $7.45 per bushel.

Global wheat supplies for 2011/12 are projected 2.1 million tons higher with larger beginning stocks in Kazakhstan and increased production for India, Kazakhstan, and Morocco.  Kazakhstan beginning stocks are raised 0.6 million tons with reduced domestic consumption for 2010/11.  India production for 2011/12 is increased 0.9 million tons reflecting the latest government revisions, which increased yields for the crop that was harvested last spring.  Kazakhstan production is raised 0.2 million tons based on the recent official estimate.  Production for Morocco is raised 0.2 million tons also on official revisions to estimated yields in a crop that was harvested several months ago.

Global trade is raised slightly for 2011/12 with world imports increased 0.7 million tons.  Small increases in imports are made for Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Chile, and Ethiopia.  Export reductions for Ukraine, Canada, and India are more than offset by increases for Russia, the United States, Argentina, and Brazil.  Global wheat consumption is reduced 1.0 million tons mostly reflecting a 1.6-million-ton reduction in India food use.  Partly offsetting are small increases in food use for Australia, Chile, Ethiopia, and Kazakhstan.  Global wheat feeding is nearly unchanged with a 1.0-million-ton reduction for Kazakhstan offset by increases for Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Mexico.  Global ending stocks for 2011/12 are raised 3.1 million tons to a record 213.1 million.  As projected, 2011/12 global wheat stocks would be 2.4 million tons higher than the previous record in 1999/2000. 

COARSE GRAINS: 
U.S. feed grain ending stocks for 2011/12 are projected lower this month as increases in corn and oats imports are more than offset by higher expected corn exports.  Projected corn and oats imports are raised 5 and 10 million bushels, respectively,based on the strong pace of shipments during the most recently reported September-November quarter.  U.S. corn exports are projected 50 million bushels higher with reduced supplies in Argentina and recent increases in both sales and shipments.  Corn ending stocks are projected 45 million bushels lower at 801 million.  The projected range for the season-average farm corn price is narrowed 10 cents on both ends of the range to $5.80 to $6.60 per bushel.

Global coarse grain supplies for 2011/12 are projected 3.1 million tons lower mostly reflecting reduced corn production prospects in Argentina and, to a lesser extent, Paraguay.  Argentina corn production is lowered 4.0 million tons to 22 million as field reports confirm that high temperatures and extensive dryness during pollination in late December and early January resulted in irreversible damage to early corn in the central growing region.  Late planted corn, which has been on the increase in recent years, will help offset some of the earlier losses, but additional rainfall is needed to stabilize production prospects.  Corn production is lowered 0.4 million tons for adjacent Paraguay where hot, dry weather also reduced area and yields.  Partly offsetting are small corn production increases for EU-27 and the Philippines.  Global barley production is raised with Argentina production up 0.7 million tons on higher reported area and yields for the crop that was harvested during late 2011.

Global coarse grain trade for 2011/12 is raised with higher corn imports for EU-27 and higher barley imports for Saudi Arabia, EU-27, and Jordan.  Partly offsetting is a reduction in corn imports for Canada.  Higher corn exports for a number of countries offset a 4.5-million-ton reduction for Argentina.  Along with the projected increase for the United States, corn exports are raised 2.0 million tons for Ukraine, 0.5 million tons each for Brazil and EU-27, and 0.2 million tons for Russia.  Barley exports are lowered 1.0 million tons for Ukraine, but raised 0.7 million tons for Russia, 0.5 million tons for Argentina, and 0.3 million tons each for Canada, EU-27, and Kazakhstan. 

Global coarse grain consumption for 2011/12 is raised slightly with higher barley feeding in Ukraine and Jordan and higher corn feeding in Argentina and Ukraine.  Corn feeding, however, is lowered for Canada and barley feeding is lowered for Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia.  Saudi Arabia is expected to rebuild stocks as world barley production has rebounded from a 40-year low in 2010/11.  Global coarse grain ending stocks for 2011/12 are lowered, with a 2.8-million-ton reduction in corn stocks and a 0.6-million-ton reduction in barley stocks.  At the projected 125.4 million tons, global corn ending stocks would be the lowest since 2006/07.

OILSEEDS: 
U.S. soybean supply and use projections for 2011/12 are unchanged this month, leaving ending stocks at 275 million bushels.  Soybean exports are projected at 1.275 billion bushels, down 226 million from last year.  Although soybean export commitments through January trail last year’s pace by more than 226 million bushels, lower soybean crop forecasts and reduced export projections for Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay are expected to be offset by additional U.S. sales and exports during the second half of the marketing year.

The U.S. season-average soybean price range for 2011/12 is narrowed to $11.10 to $12.30 per bushel compared with $10.95 to $12.45 last month.  Soybean oil prices are forecast at 50.5 to 54.5 cents per pound, and soybean meal prices are projected at $290 to $320 per short ton, both unchanged from last month.

Global oilseed production for 2011/12 is projected at 452.5 million tons, down 4.9 million tons from last month.  Brazil soybean production is forecast at 72 million tons, down 2 million due to lower projected yields.  The reduction reflects hot, dry conditions in southern Brazil in December and January.  Argentina soybean production is projected at 48 million tons, down 2.5 million.  Despite widespread rains in recent weeks, the extended hot, dry period during planting and early crop development limited plantings and reduced yield prospects.  Paraguay and Uruguay soybean production estimates are also reduced this month.  Other changes include higher rapeseed production for China and Russia, lower rapeseed and sunflowerseed production for Kazakhstan, and higher cottonseed production for Pakistan.

Global oilseed trade for 2011/12 is projected at 110.5 million tons, down 2.6 million mainly reflecting reduced soybean export projections for Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.  Soybean imports are reduced for China, EU-27, South Korea, Russia, and several Middle East countries.  China soybean imports are reduced 1 million tons to 55.5 million reflecting lower-than-expected October-December imports.  Global oilseed ending stocks are projected at 71.2 million tons, down 3.6 million from last month.  Reduced soybean stocks in Brazil and Argentina account for most of the change.

LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND DAIRY: 
The 2012 forecast of total red meat and poultry production is lowered from last month as reduced broiler meat production is expected to more than offset higher forecast beef, pork, and turkey production.  Lower expected broiler weights are underpinning the reduced forecast, with hatchery data continuing to point toward fewer birds for slaughter during most of 2012.  Beef production is raised from last month.  Despite expected tight fed cattle supplies, cow slaughter is expected to remain relatively strong during the first quarter and carcass weights are forecast higher.  Pork production is raised as first quarter slaughter and first-half carcass weights are expected to be higher than forecast last month.  Egg production is lowered slightly for 2012.  Estimates of 2011 meat and egg production are adjusted to reflect December data.

The beef export forecast for 2012 is reduced slightly but poultry exports are raised.  The pork export forecast is unchanged from last month.  Import forecasts are unchanged from January.  Beef and pork trade estimates for 2011 are unchanged but poultry exports are raised due to stronger-than-expected shipments in November.

Cattle prices for 2012 are raised from last month, reflecting tight supplies of fed cattle.  The hog price forecast is unchanged from last month.  Broiler prices are raised, reflecting lower production, and turkey prices are raised on current price strength.  The egg price range is narrowed.

The milk production forecast for 2012 is raised.  Milk cow numbers are raised for much of the year as USDA’s Cattle report indicated 1 percent more dairy cows on January 1, 2012.  However, producers are holding 1 percent fewer heifers for addition to the dairy herd, which is expected to push cow numbers lower later in the year.  Milk per cow forecasts are raised as milk per cow in the last quarter of 2011 was higher than expected and mild weather in much of the country is supporting increased early year yields.  Milk production estimates for 2011 are raised, reflecting end-of-year production data.  Fat-basis trade estimates for 2011 are increased due to both stronger-than-expected imports of butteroil and exports of cheese during November.  The skim-solids export estimate for 2011 is raised largely on relatively strong November exports of whey and skim milk powders.  This strength is expected to carry into this year, thus the skim-solids export forecast for 2012 is raised as well.

With higher forecast 2012 production, cheese and butter prices are lowered.  The nonfat dry milk (NDM) price is lowered to reflect slightly weaker early year prices.  With stronger forecast demand for whey, the whey price forecast is raised.  The lower cheese price is expected to more than offset the higher whey price, resulting in a reduced forecast Class III price.  Lower butter and NDM prices result in a lower Class IV price.  The all milk price for 2012 is lowered to $18.00 to $18.70 per cwt.



January 2012 Weather Summary
(from USDA Crop Production Report)

The "year without a winter" gained momentum in January, with the majority of the continental United States reporting above-normal temperatures. Monthly temperatures averaged more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in parts of the north-central United States, while near- to slightly below-normal temperatures were confined to southern Florida and the Pacific Northwest.

Nevertheless, cold weather caused some concerns during January. For example, an early-month freeze damaged some vegetables and other temperature-sensitive crops across Florida's peninsula on January 4-5. Later, a mid-January cold spell resulted in sub-zero readings across the northern Plains. At the time of the initial cold blast, the northern High Plains' winter wheat crop had no protective snow cover.

Much of the Plains' wheat belt also experienced drier-than-normal conditions during January, although an early-February snow storm provided much-needed moisture across central portions of the region. On both the northern and southern High Plains, mild, mostly dry, windy weather reduced wheat's winter hardiness. In contrast, periods of heavy rain provided some drought relief across the southeastern Plains, including central and northeastern Texas.

Farther northeast, slowly developing drought in the upper Midwest contrasted with unfavorably soggy conditions in parts of the eastern Corn Belt. In some of the wettest areas of the lower Midwest, numerous freeze-thaw cycles - combined with excessive soil moisture - were detrimental to the health of soft red winter wheat.

Meanwhile, drought remained a concern across much of the Deep South as the spring planting season approached. In fact, drought intensified during January in the southern Atlantic region, where mostly dry weather and occasional freezes resulted in the deterioration of pasture conditions.

Elsewhere, drought also expanded in the West, particularly from California to the Intermountain region. Despite a week of wet weather (from January 18-24), the Sierra Nevada ended the month with prospects for a "normal" season diminishing. The average water content of the high-elevation Sierra Nevada snow pack stood at 6 inches on January 31, less than 40 percent of average. Areas to the north, from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies, fared better during January, with periods of heavy rain and snow.

January Agricultural Summary
During January, temperatures were above average across much of the Nation, leading to thawing fields, below average snowpack, and declining soil moisture levels in many locations. Most notably, temperatures in the northern Great Plains were more than 12 degrees above normal, where some winter wheat fields were left unprotected due to a lack of snow cover. Precipitation totals varied widely from one region to another, with portions of Texas accumulating more than 300 percent of normal moisture levels during the month. Elsewhere, the remainder of the Great Plains, as well as the Southwest and Atlantic Coast States were unusually dry.

Producers in Florida implemented a variety of freeze protection methods to help limit the impact of several early-month cold spells on unharvested winter vegetables. Minor damage was reported in flowering snap bean and squash fields, as well as sugarcane fields. In Palm Beach County, green beans in all stages of development suffered significant damage, with approximately half of the crop destroyed. Late blight was reported in tomato and potato fields later in the month. Scarce rainfall throughout the citrus-producing region left many trees showing signs of wilt, as producers performed routine cultural practices and harvested oranges and tangerines.

Despite improving winter wheat conditions in portions of the Texas High Plains early in the month, high winds depleted soil moisture levels and blowing sand damaged the crop toward month's end. Some early-seeded wheat fields failed due to unfavorable growing conditions. Cotton producers were busy applying pre-planting herbicides; however, the continued dry weather left many producers cautious about increasing acreage using expensive seed. Elsewhere, producers in the Lower Valley harvested citrus, vegetables, and sugarcane throughout January.

In portions of the West, dry weather left dryland small grain fields in need of additional moisture to sustain growth. Producers in Arizona wrapped up harvest of their 2011 cotton crop mid-month, while barley and Durum wheat seeding was ongoing until month's end. Generally mild winter conditions allowed producers in many areas time for cultivating, fertilizing, and irrigating fields in preparation for spring planting.