The July World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates Report is calling for sharply lower supplies in corn, along with reduced feed and residual use, increased food, seed, and industrial use, as well as lower ending stocks.
Corn production is lowered 995 million bushels from June, coming in at 15 billion bushels on a yield of 178.5 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month. Ending Stocks were lower at 2.6 billion bushels. The season-average price is projected at $3.35 per bushel, 15 cents higher than the June report.
Soybean ending stocks are 30 million bushels higher than last month at 425 million. Soybean production increased to 4.14 billion bushels, which is 10 million bushels higher on increased harvested area totaling 83 million acres. The yield is unchanged at 49.8 bushels per acre and the season-average soybean price is $8.50 per bushel, up 30 cents from June.
The wheat forecast calls for larger supplies, lower domestic use, unchanged exports, and increased stocks. The harvest forecast dropped by 53 million bushels to 1.824 billion. Ending stocks increased to 924 million bushels. The season-average price for wheat is forecast at $4.60 a bushel, unchanged from last month.
The full report is below:
WHEAT: The outlook for 2020/21 U.S. wheat this month is for larger supplies, lower domestic use, unchanged exports, and increased stocks. Supplies are raised as larger beginning stocks more than offset lower production. Beginning stocks are increased on the NASS Grain Stocks report, issued June 30, which indicated higher 2019/20 ending stocks than previously estimated. This also resulted in lowering 2019/20 feed and residual use by 61 million bushels to 74 million. Wheat production for 2020/21 is reduced 53 million bushels to 1,824 million. Winter wheat production is lowered 48 million bushels to 1,218 million with reductions in Hard Red Winter and Soft Red Winter. The initial 2020/21 survey-based production forecasts for other spring and Durum were issued this month by NASS. Other spring wheat is less than last year at 550 million bushels on lower forecast yields while Durum is higher at 56 million on increased harvested area. Domestic use is 10 million bushels lower this month, all on reduced feed and residual use as 2020/21 U.S. corn supplies are still projected significantly larger than last year. Projected 2020/21 exports are unchanged at 950 million bushels but there were several offsetting by-class changes this month. Ending stocks for 2020/21 are projected 17 million bushels higher than last month at 942 million. The projected season-average farm price (SAFP) is unchanged at $4.60 per bushel, compared to the revised 2019/20 SAFP of $4.58.
The 2020/21 global wheat outlook is for smaller supplies, reduced consumption, lower exports, and decreased stocks. Supplies are reduced 2.9 million tons to 1,066 million as larger beginning stocks are more than offset by reduced production, primarily in the EU, United States, Morocco, and Russia. EU production is lowered 1.5 million tons to 139.5 million, mainly on reductions for France and Spain. If realized, this would be the smallest EU wheat production since 2012/13. Morocco is lowered 800,000 tons to 2.7 million, the smallest output since 2007/08, primarily on updated government estimates. Russia is reduced 500,000 tons to 76.5 million as lower winter wheat production is partially offset by increased spring wheat output. Projected 2020/21 global trade is reduced 0.8 million tons to 188.0 million as lower EU exports are only partially offset by higher Australian exports. World consumption is lowered 1.6 million tons to 751.6 million, primarily on reduced feed and residual use in the EU, the United States, and Morocco. Projected 2020/21 world ending stocks are lowered 1.3 million tons to 314.8 million but remain record-large with China and India accounting for 51 and 10 percent of the total, respectively.
COARSE GRAINS: This month’s 2020/21 U.S. corn outlook is for sharply lower supplies, reduced feed and residual use, increased food, seed, and industrial use, and lower ending stocks. Corn beginning stocks are raised 145 million bushels, based on lower use forecasts for 2019/20. Feed and residual use for 2019/20 is lower based on indicated disappearance during the first three quarters of the marketing year as reported in the June 30 Grain Stocks. Food, seed, and industrial use is lowered 45 million bushels. Corn used for ethanol is lowered 50 million bushels based on reported use to date and weekly ethanol production data reported by the Energy Information Administration during the month of June and into early July. Projected corn used for glucose and dextrose and starch are both raised, while that used for high fructose corn syrup is lowered.
For 2020/21, corn production is forecast 995 million bushels lower based on reduced planted and harvested areas from the June 30 Acreage report. The national average corn yield is unchanged at 178.5 bushels per acre. During June, harvested-area weighted precipitation for the major corn WASDE-602-2 producing states as reported by the National Centers for Environmental Information was below normal, but did not represent an extreme deviation from the 1988 to 2019 average. Silking as reported in the Crop Progress report is slower than the recent historical average and for much of the crop the critical pollination period will be during middle and late July. Projected feed and residual use is lowered 200 million bushels, reflecting a smaller crop and higher expected prices. Food, seed, and industrial use is raised 25 million bushels, based on projected increases in the amount of corn used for beverage and manufacturing, starch, and glucose and dextrose. Small revisions are made to historical trade and utilization estimates based on the 13th month trade data revisions from the Census Bureau. With supply declining more than use, stocks are lowered 675 million bushels to 2.6 billion. The season-average corn price received by producers is raised 15 cents to $3.35 per bushel.
This month’s 2020/21 foreign coarse grain outlook is for virtually unchanged production, slightly higher trade, and lower stocks relative to last month. Foreign corn production is virtually unchanged from last month, as forecast increases for Russia and Bolivia are essentially offset by areduction for Canada. Barley production is lowered for the EU and Morocco but raised for Canada. Major global trade changes for 2020/21 include larger corn imports for Canada and Algeria, with a partly offsetting reduction for Kenya. For 2019/20, corn exports are raised for Argentina but lowered for Brazil for the local marketing year beginning March 2020 based on observed data through early July. China’s corn feed and residual use for 2019/20 and 2020/21 is raised from last month, based on a faster than expected rebound in soybean meal equivalent protein consumption and current corn prices. Foreign corn ending stocks for 2020/21 are lowered from last month, with the largest declines for China, Argentina, the EU, Canada, and Mexico.
OILSEEDS: U.S. oilseed production for 2020/21 is projected at 122.8 million tons, down 0.4 million from last month, with increases for soybeans and peanuts offset with reductions for canola, sunflowerseed, and cottonseed. Soybean production is projected at 4.14 billion bushels, up 10 million on increased harvested area. Harvested area, forecast at 83.0 million acres in the June 30 Acreage report, is up 0.2 million from last month. The soybean yield forecast is unchanged at 49.8 bushels per acre. With higher beginning stocks, 2020/21 soybean supplies are raised 45 million bushels. Soybean crush is raised 15 million bushels reflecting an increase in domestic soybean meal disappearance which is raised in line with an increase for 2019/20. With projections for exports unchanged, 2020/21 soybean ending stocks are increased 30 million bushels to 425 million.
Soybean changes for 2019/20 include higher crush, lower residual use, and higher ending stocks. Soybean residual use is reduced 50 million bushels, reflecting June 1 soybean stocks reported in the recent Grain Stocks report, and reported soybean use through May. Soybean ending stocks for 2019/20 are projected at 620 million bushels, up 35 million from last month.
The U.S. season-average soybean price for 2020/21 is forecast at $8.50 per bushel, up $0.30 partly reflecting higher price expectations following the June Acreage report. The soybean meal price is projected at $300.00 per short ton, up $10.00 from last month. The soybean oil price forecast is unchanged at 29.0 cents per pound.
The 2020/21 global oilseed supply and demand forecasts include lower production, lower exports, higher crush, and lower ending stocks compared to last month. Global oilseed production is reduced 2.0 million tons to 604.2 million on lower rapeseed, cottonseed, and soybean production. Canola production is lowered for Canada based on updated government data. Soybean production is lowered for Canada and Uruguay, resulting in lower 2020/21 exports for both countries.
The 2020/21 global soybean ending stocks are reduced 1.3 million tons to 95.1 million as lower stocks for Brazil and China are partly offset by higher U.S. stocks. Lower foreign stocks reflect notable balance sheet revisions for Brazil in 2019/20 and China in 2019/20 and 2020/21. For Brazil, the 2019/20 crop is increased 2 million tons to 126 million, reflecting higher yields. Exports are increased 4 million tons to 89 million, leading to a 2-million-ton reduction to ending stocks. The local year exports (February 2020-January 2021) are also increased 2.5 million tons to 79.5 million.
China’s 2019/20 balance sheet changes include a 2-million-ton increase in imports to 96 million and a 1-million ton increase to crush, resulting in higher ending stocks. For 2020/21, China’s higher beginning stocks are offset by higher crush, leading to lower ending stocks. With these changes, China’s year-over-year soybean meal domestic disappearance growth remains at 7 percent.
SUGAR: U.S. sugar supply for 2020/21 is increased 187,367 short tons, raw value (STRV) to 13.921 million based on an increase in beginning stocks and production only partially offset by a reduction in imports. An increase in beginning stocks of 140,070 STRV results from increases in 2019/20 FTA TRQ imports from the implementation of USMCA and in 2019/20 imports from Mexico. Combined national beet sugar production and cane sugar production in 2020/21 are increased by 85,000 STRV based on projected increases in area harvested reported in the NASS Acreage report. TRQ imports for 2020/21 are increased by the quantity of specialty sugar beyond the WTO minimum as announced by the Secretary of Agriculture (154,323 STRV) and by projected FTA imports from Canada under USMCA (30,581 STRV). Imports from Mexico are projected at 1.079 million STRV, a reduction of 222,607 from last month. Net imports for 2020/21 are thereby reduced 37,703 STRV. There are no changes to use. Ending stocks are projected at 1.656 million STRV for an ending stocks-to-use ratio of 13.5 percent.
Under the USMCA effective July 1, 2020, Canada is to receive a calendar year export allotment of 9,600 metric tons (MT) of refined beet sugar for the entry into the U.S. market. USTR set the allotment for the remainder of 2020 at 4,800 MT, one-half of the annual amount. The allotment for 2021 is assumed at the full statutory level. USTR also granted Canada 20 percent of the 181,437 MT additional refined sugar TRQ established in April before the implementation of the USMCA. The 20- percent level of any addition to the refined sugar TRQ is set out in the USMCA and only applies in this case to calendar year 2020. These allocated amounts are prorated on a quarterly basis across the final two quarters of 2020 and the first three quarters of 2021.
Mexico production for 2019/20 is estimated at 5.282 million MT. This is an increase of 52,000 MT over last month mostly on better yields. FAS Mexico City Post reporting supports downward adjustments of 43,604 MT reflecting combined lower deliveries to the IMMEX reexport program and for human consumption. Required ending stocks to meet delivery needs for the 2.5 months before the start of the 2020/21 sugarcane campaign are lowered on the basis of lower projected deliveries in 2020/21. The net result of these changes is to increase residually determined exportable supply by 119,979 MT. Exports to the United States are increased to 1.194 million MT. Raw exports to the United States are estimated between 740,000 and 757,000 MT from 2019/20 production and beginning raw sugar stock levels.
Mexico sugar supply and use for 2020/21 has fewer beginning stocks, lower projected deliveries for IMMEX and human consumption, and reduced stocks. The net effect is to increase exports by 117,000 MT to 1.731 million. Exports to the United States are reduced to 923,253 MT on calculated U.S. Needs as set out in the AD/CVD Suspension Agreements. Exports to third-country destinations are residually increased to 807,747 MT.
LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND DAIRY: The forecast for 2020 red meat and poultry production is raised from last month. The beef production forecast is raised primarily on higher cattle slaughter and heavier carcass weights. USDA will release the Cattle report on July 24, providing a mid-year estimate of U.S. cattle inventory as well as producer intentions regarding retention of heifers for beef cow replacement. Forecast pork production is raised from last month largely on higher expected second-half commercial hog slaughter. Broiler production is raised on recent hatchery data while turkey production is lowered on recent production and hatchery data. Egg production is lowered from last month on a reduced laying flock and a reduction in eggs per layer.
For 2021, the red meat and poultry production forecast is raised as higher expected beef, pork, and broiler production more than offsets lower forecast turkey production. Forecast beef production is raised from the previous month as higher expected placements in late 2020 and early 2021 will result in higher marketings. The pork production forecast is raised as the sector continues to adjust to the effects of COVID-19. Broiler production is raised from last month while turkey and egg production forecasts are reduced.
The beef import forecast is raised for 2020, but the export forecast is lowered from the previous month on recent trade data. The 2021 beef trade forecasts are unchanged from last month. Pork export forecasts for 2020 and 2021 are raised from last month as international demand is expected to remain robust. The 2020 broiler export forecast is reduced on recent trade data, but no change is made to the 2021 forecast. Turkey export forecasts are lowered for 2020 and 2021 on weak import demand from key trading partners.
Cattle price forecasts for 2020 are lowered from last month on prices to date and continued large supplies of fed cattle. Forecast 2021 cattle prices are unchanged. The 2020 hog price forecast is reduced on current price weakness and supply pressure. The 2021 hog price forecast is also reduced on higher hog supplies. Broiler prices for 2020 are raised fractionally on slightly higher second-quarter prices; no change is made to the 2021 broiler price. Turkey price forecasts for 2020 and 2021 are raised as production is reduced. The 2020 egg price forecast is reduced on current price weakness, but the 2021 egg price forecast is unchanged.
The milk production forecast for 2020 is lowered from last month largely on slower growth in milk per cow. However, the 2021 milk production forecast is raised from last month on expectations of dairy herd rebuilding and a recovery in growth in milk per cow. USDA’s Cattle report, to be released on July 24, will provide a mid-year estimate of the dairy cow inventory and producer intentions regarding retention of heifers for dairy cow replacement.
For 2020, the fat basis import forecast is raised from the previous month on higher imports of butter, while the fat basis export forecast is raised on increased shipments of cheese and butterfat products. The skim-solids basis import forecast is unchanged from the previous month, but the export forecast is raised on higher expected exports of dry skim milk products and lactose. Price forecasts for cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk are raised from the previous month on recent price strength and anticipated demand strength. The whey price forecast is lowered from last month. Class III and Class IV milk prices are raised for 2020, and the all milk price forecast is raised to $18.25 per cwt.
For 2021, the fat basis import and export forecasts are raised. The skim-solids basis import forecast is unchanged, but the export forecast is raised on strong international demand for skim milk powder. For 2021, cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk price forecasts are raised from the previous month while the whey price is unchanged. The 2021 Class III and Class IV milk price forecasts are raised from last month, and the all milk price forecast is raised to $17.05 per cwt.