Thursday October 11 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Based on October 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2018 corn production is forecast at 1.80 billion bushels, up 7 percent from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area to be harvested for grain, at 9.25 million acres, is down 1 percent from a year ago. Yield is forecast at 195 bushels per acre, up 14 bushels from last year. Both yield and production are new record highs if realized.

Sorghum for grain is forecast at 15.8 million bushels, up 32 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 155,000 acres, is up 15 percent from 2017. Yield is a record forecast at 102 bushels per acre, up 13 bushels from last year.

Soybean production is forecast at 350 million bushels, up 7 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.65 million acres, is slightly below 2017. Yield is forecast at 62 bushels per acre, up 4.5 bushels from last year. Both yield and production are new record highs if realized.

Dry edible bean production is forecast at 3.25 million hundredweight, down 17 percent from 2017. Area for harvest, at 128,000 acres, is down 17 percent from last year. Yield is a record forecast at 2,540 pounds per acre, up 20.0 pounds per acre from last year.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.48 million tons, up 3 percent from 2017. Area for harvest, at 44,200 acres, is down 2 percent from last year. Yield is a record forecast at 33.4 tons per acre, up 1.6 tons per acre from a year ago.

All sunflower production is forecast at 51.2 million pounds, down 26 percent from last year. Acreage for harvest, at 33,000 acres, is down 10,500 acres from 2017. Harvested acreage is a new record low. Yield is forecast at 1,550 pounds per acre, down 38 pounds per acre from a year ago. Of the acres for harvest, non-oil sunflowers account for 10,000 acres and oil sunflowers account for 23,000 acres.

Alfalfa hay production, at 3.61 million tons, is up 10 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 880,000 acres, is up 6 percent from a year ago. Yield of 4.10 tons per acre is up 0.15 ton from 2017. All other hay production, at 3.70 million tons, is up 28 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 1.85 million acres, is up 3 percent from a year ago. Yield of 2.00 tons per acre is up 0.40 ton from 2017. Both yield and production are new record highs if realized.



IOWA CROP PRODUCTION ESTIMATE

Iowa corn production is forecast at 2.60 billion bushels according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 204 bushels per acre, down 2 bushels per acre from the September 1 forecast, but up 2 bushels per acre from last year. If realized, this will be highest yield on record, 1 bushel per acre above the record set in 2016. Corn planted acreage is estimated at 13.2 million acres. An estimated 12.8 million of the acres planted will be harvested for grain.

Soybean production is forecast at 606 million bushels. If realized, this will be the highest production on record with 39.8 million bushels more than the previous record of 567 million bushels set in 2017. The yield is forecast at 61.0 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel per acre from the September forecast, and 4 bushels per acre higher than 2017. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record surpassing the 60.0 bushels per acre in 2016. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 10.0 million acres with 9.94 million acres to be harvested.

Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures for hay is forecast at 3.15 million tons, an increase of 25 percent from the previous year. Yield is expected to average 3.80 tons per acre, up 0.30 ton from last year. Production of other hay is forecast at 888,000 tons, up 7 percent from last year. Yield for other hay is expected to average 2.40 tons per acre, up 0.10 ton from last year.

The forecasts in this report are based on October 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next corn and soybean production forecasts, based on conditions as of November 1, will be released on November 8.



U.S. Corn Production Down Slightly from September Forecast
Soybean Production Down Slightly

Corn production is forecast at 14.8 billion bushels, down slightly from the September forecast but up 1 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 180.7 bushels per acre, down 0.6 bushel from the September forecast but up 4.1 bushels from 2017. If realized, this will be the highest yield and second highest production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 81.8 million acres, down slightly from the previous estimate and down 1 percent from 2017. Acreage updates were made in several States based on a thorough review of all available data.

Soybean production is forecast at a record 4.69 billion bushels, down slightly from September but up 6 percent from last year. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record 53.1 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last month and up 3.8 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at 88.3 million acres, down 1 percent from September and down 1 percent from 2017. Acreage updates were made in several States based on a thorough review of all available data.



NEBRASKA EXTENSION TO HOST WEED SCIENCE SCHOOL ON OCT. 31

Growers, crop consultants and educators are encouraged to attend Nebraska Extension’s Weed Science School from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center near Mead.

The school will include several morning presentations, including an overview of weed control and herbicide-resistant weeds in Nebraska, a Nebraska Department of Agriculture procedure to investigate dicamba off-target injury, forensic analysis of dicamba injury, and much more.

The afternoon session will include onsite weed identification, information on cover crops and weed suppression, effect of ultra-micro rates of dicamba on soybean yield, and managing herbicide drift.

“Dr. Kevin Bradley, professor of weed science at the University of Missouri is an invited speaker to present his 15 years of research experience for management of herbicide-resistant waterhemp,” said extension weed management specialist Amit Jhala.

Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Continuing Education Units are available.

There is no cost to attend the field day, but participants are asked to register at https://agronomy.unl.edu/weedscienceschool.



NEBRASKA EXTENSION TO OFFER LANDLORD-TENANT WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE STATE

Current and future landowners and tenants should make plans to attend free upcoming land management workshops sponsored by Nebraska Extension. The workshops will be held at nine sites across Nebraska this fall.

“Managing Agricultural Land for the 21st Century” will cover current trends in cash rental rates, lease provisions, and crop and grazing land considerations.

Nebraska Extension Educators Allan Vyhnalek, Aaron Nygren, Erin Laborie, Ben Beckman and Jim Jansen conduct research and outreach in land management, agronomy and beef production. They will address common agricultural landlord and tenant questions such as, what does an equitable rental rate look like for my land? How do I manage a farmland lease? What should I expect for communications between the landlord and tenant? What does a soil test tell me? I hear about organic or natural production; how does that vary from what my farmer is currently doing? If corn or soybeans are not making money, should something else be raised on my land? What are key pasture leasing considerations including stocking rates? Who is responsible for cedar tree removal from grazing land?

“Landlords and tenants often struggle with land management questions.” said Vyhnalek. “Both are concerned with fair treatment but it can be difficult to keep up with the current trends. Our workshop will provide participants with up-to-date information so they can be confident about their lease arrangements.”

To ensure enough handouts please register at go.unl.edu/landlordtenant or call the phone number listed for each location. Lunch arrangements will be handled by each host location.

For more information or assistance, please contact Allan Vyhnalek at 402-472-1771 or avyhnalek2@unl.edu, or Jim Jansen, at 402-261-7572 or jjansen4@unl.edu.

Registration at each location will start at 9:15 a.m., program starting at 9:30 a.m., and ending by 3:00 p.m.

Workshop dates and locations:
    SOUTH SIOUX CITY: Nov. 19 at the Northeast Community College Extended Campus, 1001 College Way, 402-254-6821, lunch will be sponsored
    COLUMBUS: Nov. 20 at the Platte County Extension Office, 2715 13th St., 402-563-4901, attendees will be dismissed to have lunch off site
    BROKEN BOW: Nov. 26 at the 4-H Building at the Custer County Fairgrounds, 44100 Memorial Drive 308-872-6831, attendees will be dismissed to have lunch off site
    NORFOLK: Dec. 3 at the Divots Convention Center, 4200 W Norfolk Ave. 402-370-4040, lunch will be sponsored
    ALMA: Dec. 12 at the Harlan County Extension Office, 519 S Main St., 308-928-2119, lunch will be sponsored
    OGALLALA: Dec. 13 at Mid-Plains Community College, 512 E B St. S, 308-284-6051, lunch will be sponsored
    LEXINGTON: Dec. 14 at the Dawson County Extension Office, 1002 Plum Creek Pkwy, 308-324-5501, lunch will be sponsored
    BEATRICE: Dec. 19 at the Gage County Extension Office, 1115 W Scot St., 402-233-1384, lunch will be sponsored
    HASTINGS: Dec. 20 at the Adams County Fairgrounds, 947 S Baltimore Ave, 402-461-7209, lunch will be sponsored

This program is free and open to the public with funding provided by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under award number 2015-49200-24226.



2019 Dairy Ambassador application process open
Midwest Dairy and Nebraska Dairy Extension are again partnering to offer a Dairy Ambassador program in 2019. This program is a year-long leadership program where students have the opportunity to learn about the dairy community and share their love for dairy with students, future leaders and consumers while learning and advancing their leadership skills.  Ambassadors will participate in a number of events throughout the year such as Ag Literacy Festivals, Moo at the Zoo, the Nebraska State Fair, dairy farm tours, agribusiness tours and other leadership programs.  At the end of the program, Ambassadors will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Midwest Dairy.  In addition to the scholarship, Ambassadors will receive a $75 per diem for each day they participate in events.

Applicant eligibility includes
    1) Applicant must be enrolled full-time in a Nebraska post-secondary school for the duration of the appointment.
    2) Applicant must provide their own transportation. Reimbursement for travel expenses (mileage and hotel) will be provided for all approved events.
    3) Applicant must communicate effectively through email, text messaging and in-person. 4) Applicant must have a passion for dairy.

 Applications are to be completed online at this link: https://www.midwestdairy.com/for-farmers/ambassadors/.  Applications are due December 1 and notices sent by January 1, 2019.



LEAFY SPURGE TASK FORCE TO HOLD QUARTERLY MEETING

The Nebraska Leafy Spurge Working Task Force will hold their quarterly meeting on Tuesday, October 23 at 1:00 p.m. at the Holt County Weed Control office in O’Neill.  Topics for discussion will include but not be limited to:  Update on the 2018 annual tour and conference; planning for the 2019 annual tour and conference; general discussion on chemical use to control noxious and invasive plants; open discussion on topics of interest to those present.

This informational session is open to the public and landowners are invited and encouraged to attend.



Ibach, Andriessen to Receive USMEF Awards

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has announced the recipients of its Michael J. Mansfield Award and Distinguished Service Award. Both awards will be presented Nov. 7 at the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference in Long Beach, California.

Greg Ibach, USDA’s under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs, will receive the Mansfield Award, which is presented in honor of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Michael J. Mansfield, who helped form the foundation for U.S. trade relations throughout the world.

Prior to his appointment at USDA, Ibach served as director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture from 2005 to 2017, where he was a tireless advocate for international promotion of U.S. red meat products. He first became involved with USMEF as a member of the Nebraska Beef Council and through his service on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee.

“I’m truly honored and humbled to receive the Mansfield Award. My working relationship with USMEF goes back more than 25 years, and I’ve been fortunate to have an active role in promoting U.S. red meat globally for a very long time,” Ibach said. “While the benefits to individual beef and pork producers are fairly obvious, I have seen firsthand how investing in promotions for these value-added exports delivers significant returns for corn and soybean farmers, truckers, processors and many others throughout the U.S. agricultural economy.”

The USMEF Distinguished Service Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the pursuit of USMEF’s export goals. This year’s honoree is Roel Andriessen, who served as USMEF chair in 2015-2016 and is a former chair of the USMEF Exporter Committee. Andriessen was actively involved in the organization for much of his career in the meat industry, which spanned nearly 40 years prior to his retirement from Tyson Fresh Meats, where he headed the international sales group. Andriessen started in his family’s international meat and poultry business in the Netherlands and later continued the business in Kansas. In 1978, he moved to IBP which was subsequently acquired by Tyson Foods.

“The USMEF Distinguished Service Award is a tremendous honor, but it’s one that I accept on behalf of many people I have worked with throughout my career,” Andriessen said. “Building and serving an international customer base is truly a team effort. For example, at the plant level, those working in production, quality control, food safety, and material handling must take additional steps to successfully export red meat. This may include different specifications, packaging, multilingual labeling, customer plant tours and plant audits with foreign government officials. The international sales teams, both U.S. and foreign-based, are the ones who forge the relationships and ultimately sell the product. But this can’t be completed without corporate support teams such as livestock procurement, production scheduling, export logistics and others. As one can readily see, it takes an incredible team effort and I truly salute all who have been involved.”



NA-BA 2018 UNL Research Symposium 

Please join us for this year's annual Research Symposium, co-sponsored by the Institute of Agriculture & Natural Resources and the Nebraska Agri-Business Association! There will be eight speakers presenting cutting edge research being performed in the agronomy and agriculture fields. Many of you will find this meeting to be very beneficial in your career.

Research Symposium is on Wednesday, November 15, 2018 at the Holthus Convention Center in York, NE. Registration will begin at 7:30 am, with speakers starting at 8:00 am.

The speakers and topics are:
Al Dutcher, Associate Professor Geoscientist UNL
       Wrap up of the Growing Season, Current Conditions
Joe Luck, Associate Professor Biological Systems Engineering UNL
       Crop Management TBA
Amit Jhala, Associate Professor Agronomy and Horticulture
       Weed Control and Crop Safety in Balance Bean/Liberty Link Soybean
Cody Creech, Assistant Professor Agronomy and Horticulture UNL
        Dryland Crop Production
Charles Wortmann, Professor Agronomy and Horticulture UN
        Phosphorous Use Research for Corn and the Revision of UNL Recommendations                     
Tom Clemente, Professor Agronomy and Horticulture UNL
        Innovations in Agriculture
Tim Mundorf, Nutrient Management Lead Central Valley Ag
        Interpreting the Soil Test
Justin McMechan, Assistant Professor Department of Entomology
        Emerging Pests of Corn and Soybeans

The cost of registration covers rolls & coffee, lunch, and all speaker handouts. A registration form is included for you to register for Research Symposium or you can register online at....
http://bit.ly/UNLResearch2018.

Please contact Sarah Skirry at sskirry@na-ba.com or (402) 476-1528 if you have any questions. We hope to see you in York at this year's Research Symposium!



Asia Trade Mission Offers Valuable Market Insights

A recent trade mission to Asia by the National Pork Board International Marketing Committee built lasting relationships with international customers and elevated U.S. pork as the global protein of choice. The Pork Checkoff team toured Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Macau, meeting with pork processors, distributors and retailers, importers and traders, as well as in-country staff responsible for promoting U.S. pork in the region.

“Pork is the No. 1 most-consumed protein in the world, and that was obvious on this mission,” said Bill Luckey, a pork producer from Columbus, Nebraska, and chair of the Pork Checkoff’s International Marketing Committee. “As the committee allocates Pork Checkoff dollars to international marketing, it is important to see how these dollars are working today and how we might better target producer resources in emerging markets in the future.”

With U.S. pork production again breaking records in 2018, the Pork Checkoff is committed to growing pork demand both domestically and in international markets. Singapore and Vietnam are developing markets for U.S. pork and present huge opportunities for U.S. pork export growth in the coming years. In 2017, U.S. pork exports to Singapore increased almost 20 percent from 2016, reaching $17 million. Last year, the United States also exported over $11 million of fresh/chilled/frozen bone-in hams and shoulders to Vietnam.

“Consumers in Vietnam and Singapore are rapidly increasing pork in their diets, with pork consumption on trend to overtake seafood consumption in both markets as the No. 1 protein,” said Craig Morris, the Pork Checkoff’s vice president of international marketing. “This provides a great opportunity to capture a rapidly increasing market share, but we must first understand the changing consumer and retail landscapes in these countries to meet consumer needs and expectations.”

While in Singapore, the committee learned that U.S. pork often is positioned as a premium product, with high-end U.S. pork selling for three to five times more than the price of competitors’ products. Also, pre-prepared and processed foods are becoming popular as consumers seek convenience to meet their increasingly busy, urban lifestyles.

“U.S. pork can succeed in Singapore by delivering a high-quality product packaged in small portions and in convenient, ready-to-cook formats,” Morris said.

In Vietnam, committee members learned that popular wet markets, where fresh pork is sold on the streets, are declining as consumers seek the modern conveniences of full-service grocery stores. U.S. pork is viewed as a superior product in terms of taste and quality, and it is being marketed as such by U.S. import partners and buyers, Morris noted. U.S. pork is heavily featured in restaurants throughout Vietnam, especially by those with newer, more modern menu offerings.

“It’s surprising, but Vietnam is a booming market for American barbecue,” Luckey said. “Many restaurants feature U.S. pork’s reputation for superior quality, which they promote on menus to grow their business.” 

Hong Kong also remains a strategic partner for U.S. pork. According to Morris, a significant amount of U.S. pork is sold in Hong Kong then shipped to mainland China, Macau, Vietnam and other Asian markets. As a conduit to other regions, Hong Kong is a critical market, with 38 percent of all of the food the U.S. ships there, in turn, re-exported, according to Morris.

“In this challenging trade environment, it is critical that we meet with our colleagues in Hong Kong and express gratitude for their continued partnership. Building face-to-face relationships is especially important in this region,” Morris said. “We met with 40 of the largest importers who play a key role In deciding what will be sold in retail stores, featured on restaurant menus and traded with other countries in Southeast Asia.”

The last stop on the international mission was Macau, which is home to some of the world’s largest casinos. As a large tourist destination, the country offers many opportunities for U.S. pork to be showcased to consumers from all around the world.

Luckey called the Asian trade mission a great success.

“Not only were we able to see the many different ways that pork is being promoted in these countries, but we came back with insights into how to grow our market share,” Luckey said. “The committee members are excited to share these ideas with our partners here in the U.S. and to follow up with customers we met to bring U.S. pork to their shelves and menus.”



Casey’s Unveils Groundbreaking Partnership with Prime the Pump

Casey’s General Store today unveiled a partnership with Prime the Pump, a Growth Energy partner and nonprofit organization dedicated to helping to give more Americans the choice of E15 at the pump. Casey’s will expand its offering of E15 – a fuel with 15 percent ethanol –  to potentially more than 500 of its locations over the next few years. E15 is approved for 9 out of 10 cars on the road today and American drivers have surpassed 5 billion miles on it.

“Since first rolling out E15, we’ve seen the benefit the biofuel blend offers in terms of value for our customers and a competitive advantage for our business,” said Casey’s Director of Fuels Nathaniel Doddridge. “We’re excited to partner with Prime the Pump and Growth Energy to build on the success and accelerate our offering of E15 to even more of our customers.”

“We are thrilled Prime the Pump is entering into partnership with Casey’s and taking it to record-breaking heights to give more American drivers a cleaner burning, engine-smart option at the pump,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Casey’s has seen the value E15 brings to their business and to their customers, and will soon be the nation’s largest E15 retailer. This announcement underscores the critical need for lawmakers to approve year-round use of E15.”

In March of 2017, Casey’s announced they would be offering E15 fuel at select stores in the Midwest . Today, Casey’s is among the nation’s leading independent retailers including Kwik Trip, Sheetz, Kum & Go, Minnoco, RaceTrac, Thorntons, Protec Fuels, QuikTrip, Family Express, Holiday, Murphy USA, Holiday, Rutter’s, and Cenex offering E15 at more than 1,600 stations across 30 states.



Iowa Soybean Association Seeking Nominations for Agricultural Leadership Awards

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) seeks to recognize outstanding leadership from farmers and industry professionals actively advancing Iowa agriculture and the Iowa soybean industry.

Nominations for ISA’s annual awards are due Tuesday, Oct. 30. Winners will be recognized at ISA’s annual conference in December.

“Improving the competitiveness of Iowa’s soybeans would not be possible without the outstanding commitment of farmers and industry professionals,” says Lindsay Greiner, ISA president and 2012 New Leader award recipient. “Nobody does what they do for the recognition. That’s why it’s up to us to find those who go above and beyond and make sure they know they are appreciated.”

Nominations are sought for:
-    RISING STAR: A high school senior or college student who takes an active role promoting Iowa agriculture and has plans to remain involved in agriculture through personal or professional activities.
-    LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP: An ISA member with an established history of taking an active role in advancing the goals of ISA and continuously demonstrating a passion and commitment for growing the soybean industry.
-    NEW LEADER: An ISA member who has actively grown in their involvement in ISA programming and has shown outstanding involvement in their community and/or state.
-    ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER: An ISA member who is improving on-farm environmental performance and leadership by using precision agriculture tools and technology in collaboration with ISA Environmental Programs and Services or the On-Farm Network®.
-    INNOVATOR IN PRODUCTION RESEARCH: An individual, organization or company that has shown outstanding leadership in the use of precision agriculture and has worked to validate and effectively manage practices to improve profitability.
-    FRIEND OF THE IOWA SOYBEAN FARMER: An elected leader or ISA partner who has shown a deep understanding of issues facing Iowa soybean farmers and has supported them through their activities and efforts.
-    ADVOCATE FOR IOWA AGRICULTURE:  New this year, this award will be presented to an ISA member, individual, organization or company that effectively and accurately tells the story of modern agriculture and actively builds bridges between Iowa farmers and consumers.

To nominate a deserving leader, explain why the nominee deserves recognition in fewer than 150 words. Include the nominee’s name, hometown, phone number and e-mail. Submit nominations to Lauren Houska, ISA communications specialist (Lhouska@iasoybeans.com).

Recipients will be recognized Thursday, Dec. 13 during ISA’s annual conference in Ankeny. For more information about the awards, visit www.iasoybeans.com/awards.



US Ethanol Stocks Build Again

Domestic ethanol stocks increased for a second straight week during the first week of October as production jumped 2.5% and blending demand eased, Energy Information Administration data released Thursday, Oct. 11, shows.

Total domestic ethanol inventories rose 576,000 bbl in the week ended Oct. 5 to 24.021 million bbl, 2.5 million bbl or nearly 12% higher than the corresponding week in 2017.

Plant production increased for the first time in three weeks, rising 25,000 bpd to 1.040 million bpd during the week ended Oct. 5, 7.5% above the corresponding week in 2017. Four-week averaged production was 1.036 million bpd versus 1.001 million bpd during the corresponding four week period in 2017.

Net refiner and blender inputs, a measure for ethanol demand, declined 4,000 bpd to 913,000 bpd during the week-ended Oct. 5, 2.6% lower than a year ago. For the four weeks ended Oct. 5, blending demand averaged 915,000 bpd, 6,000 bpd below the same period in 2017.



Retail Fertilizer Trends - Price Gap Widens Between Urea and Anhydrous

Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first week of October continue to show the slow and steady price increases, a pattern that's been in place for several months. For the fourth week in a row, all eight major fertilizer prices are higher compared to a month earlier.

As has also been the case the last four weeks, one fertilizer had a substantial move higher. Urea prices are 6% higher compared to the first week of September. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $389/ton.

At $501/ton, it's the first time since DAP prices have crossed the $500/ton mark since the third week of December in 2015. At that time the price was at $519/ton.

The remaining six fertilizers were all higher in price than last month, but the price moves were less noteworthy. MAP had an average price $523/ton, potash $364/ton, 10-34-0 $451/ton, anhydrous $488/ton, UAN28 $237/ton and UAN32 $279/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.42/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year. Potash is 5% higher, 10-34-0 is 9% more expensive, UAN28 is 14% higher, UAN32 is now 15% more expensive, MAP is 16% higher, DAP is 18% more expensive, urea is 20% higher and anhydrous is now 22% more expensive compared to last year.



Brazil Forecasts 2018-2019 Soybean Crop of 117M Tons-119.4M Tons

Brazil's farmers could produce another record harvest of soybeans in the 2018-2019 growing season as demand remains strong enough to spur growers to increase the area planted with the crop, according to Brazilian crop agency Conab.

The country will grow from 117 million metric tons to 119.4 million metric tons of soybeans in the current growing season, in which planting has already begun, Conab said Thursday. In the 2017-2018 season, Brazil's farmers produced a record 119.3 million tons of soybeans.

"Even with expectations of a big crop in North America, prices are still at levels considered profitable by producers," Conab said in its monthly grains bulletin.

Brazil is the world's second-largest soybean producer, after the U.S., and has produced several consecutive record crops in recent years as demand for the oilseed from China has remained strong. The trade dispute between China and the U.S. has increased demand for Brazilian soybeans, but Brazilian farmers have said that they aren't planting more of the crop in response to the dispute and instead are increasing production in line with the rise in demand in recent years.

The country's mild winters permit its farmers to plant to crops in most areas, and they frequently alternate between soybeans and corn. Brazil will produce from 89.7 million metric tons of corn to 91.1 million tons in 2018-2019, Conab said. In 2017-2018, the country grew 80.8 million tons, according to the agency.



U.S. Exports Of Feed Grains In All Forms Set Another New Record In 2017/2018
The final 2017/2018 marketing year’s numbers are out - and for the second year in a row, the United States has set a new record for exports of feed grains and co-products, led by higher corn and ethanol shipments.

Overall, the United States exported nearly 120 million metric tons of feed grains in all forms (GIAF), translating into roughly 4.75 billion bushels or a third of U.S. production. The marketing year’s exports increased six percent or 6.5 million tons (256 million bushels) above last year’s record-setting levels.

“For U.S. grain producers, our 2017/2018 export performance was outstanding and above recently revised expectations due to particularly strong shipments in the second half of the marketing year,” said Mike Dwyer, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) chief economist. “U.S. agricultural producers saw international demand for their products - in one form or another - continue to rise. This export growth is vital to our feed grain producers who continue to see their yields and overall production rise amidst challenging trade policy conditions."

Southern neighbor and trade agreement partner Mexico topped all other markets in GIAF imports, with total marketing year shipments growing 6.3 percent year-over-year to a new record of 25.2 million tons (almost 1 billion bushels in corn equivalent). By category, Mexico ranked as the largest buyer of U.S. corn, barley and dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS), with sales in each category increasing from the prior year.

Japan was the second largest overall GIAF market overseas in 2017/2018 with shipments roughly unchanged from last year at 16.9 million tons (665 million bushels). Japan ranked as the second largest buyer of U.S. corn and U.S. sorghum, the third largest buyer of U.S. barley and the ninth largest market for U.S. DDGS.

South Korea rounded out the top three overall importers, increasing purchases of U.S. feed grains and co-products by 11.8 percent to 9.33 million tons (367 million bushels) - a new record. Notably, South Korea ranked as second largest buyer of U.S. DDGS, the third largest buyer of U.S. corn and sixth largest buyer of U.S. ethanol in addition to significant sales of U.S. sorghum.

The Council utilizes the feed grains in all forms calculation to help capture how important overseas markets are for U.S. feed grain producers by including both exports of corn, barley and sorghum and products made with them as inputs including the corn equivalent of co-products like ethanol, DDGS and corn gluten feed/meal as well as beef, pork and poultry meat exports.

By category, U.S. corn exports increased six percent to 61.8 million tons (2.43 billion bushels). Corn exports to Mexico reached a record high of 15.7 million tons (618 million bushels), up nearly 13 percent over last marketing year.

This year’s sales continue strong export growth seen over the last five marketing years despite uncertainty surrounding the negotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), thanks in large part to the market access provided by the existing North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the resulting well-developed North American supply chains and robust market development work by the Council and its members.

U.S. ethanol exports surged 19 percent to a record 1.62 billion gallons (equivalent to 547 million bushels of corn), thanks to greatly expanded worldwide market development work by the Council and ethanol industry partners including Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and generous support from state corn organizations. Recent successes are also aided by a competitively-priced product compared to those of other ethanol exporting countries as well as fossil fuel alternatives like MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) and aromatics (benzene, toluene and xylene).

Notably, this year’s export total surpasses the previous record of 1.37 billion gallons (equivalent to 490 million bushels of grain) exported in the 2016/2017 marketing year. The Council started promoting ethanol in the 2013/2014 marketing year and has quickly expanded the intensity and geographic scope of its market development efforts.

“U.S. ethanol exports are up 60 percent over the last two marketing years, with back-to-back years of record exports as the Council has ramped up its worldwide demand-building and market access activities,” Dwyer said. “We are the world’s low-cost ethanol producer, which has helped the United States capture more than 65 percent of global ethanol exports in the 2017/2018 marketing year.”

U.S. DDGS exports also grew year-over-year, albeit at a slower pace of 5.7 percent, with increased purchasing by four of the five top buyers for the year. Each of the top four buyers - Mexico, South Korea, Turkey and Vietnam - purchased more than a million tons of U.S. DDGS in the 2017/2018 marketing year, indicating continued strong global interest in the feed ingredient despite a steady decline in Chinese purchasing since 2013/2014.

Despite continued trade policy challenges, China remained the top buyer of U.S. sorghum with 4.2 million tons (165 million bushels) in sales in 2017/2018, largely sold before tariffs were enacted that continue to inhibit purchasing. Overall, sorghum exports were down nearly 14 percent year-over-year at 5.16 million tons (203 million bushels), but several smaller markets did increase purchases, including Japan, Sudan, the European Union (led by Spain), Somalia and South Korea.

U.S. barley exports remained roughly unchanged over the last three marketing years with nearly 550,000 tons (25.3 million bushels) sold in 2017/2018. Mexico continued to dominate purchasing at 394,000 tons (18.1 million bushels), further evidence of the importance of this top market.

The 2017/2018 marketing year remained a pleasant surprise across most categories - considering the year was characterized by trade policy concerns and market uncertainty. The results demonstrate the work by the Council and partner organizations to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives through capitalizing on short-term opportunities and building long-lasting and loyal trading relationships.'