Agricultural Economy

Reuters writer Julie Ingwersen reported last week that, “U.S. farmers are likely to reduce plantings of corn while expanding seedings of soybeans and wheat for the upcoming marketing year, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Friday.”

DTN writer Katie Micik Dehlinger reported on Wednesday that, “The retail fertilizer price spike continues, with seven of the eight major fertilizers tracked by DTN posting significant gains and one setting a new record. UAN32 cost an average of $522 per ton in the fourth week of October, the highest in DTN’s 13 years of gathering bids.”

Wall Street Journal writer Jaewon Kang reported earlier this week that, “Supermarket chains are revamping their operations to navigate persistent product shortages, expanding storage space and curbing discounts to make sure they don’t run out.”

In its October Wheat Outlook report, the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) pointed out that, “USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) published its Grain Stocks report on September 30, which indicated that wheat stocks as of September 1 this year were the lowest for that date since 2007.”

Earlier this week, Wall Street Journal writer Jinjoo Lee reported that, “High natural-gas prices today mean your electricity and heating bills will likely be expensive this winter. Next year, it could mean you will end up paying more to eat and to fill up your car.”

A news release on Monday from ADM indicated that, “ADM, a global leader in nutrition and agricultural origination and processing, and Gevo, Inc., a pioneer in transforming renewable energy into low carbon, energy-dense liquid hydrocarbons, announced today that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other low carbon-footprint hydrocarbon fuels.”

In an update from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City earlier this month (“Larger Livestock Loans Boost Farm Lending”), Nathan Kauffman and Ty Kreitman stated that, “Demand for livestock loans grew in the third quarter, boosting agricultural lending activity at commercial banks.”

Bloomberg writers Kim Chipman and Elizabeth Elkin reported late last week that, “Skyrocketing fertilizer prices could lead U.S. corn profits to drop by about a quarter next year, potentially motivating farmers to shift millions of acres into less cost-intensive soybeans.” 

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its October 2021 Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions by Federal Reserve District. The report included several observations pertaining to the U.S. agricultural economy.

Bloomberg writers Brendan Case, Leslie Patton, and Kim Chipman reported this week that, “In Denver, public-school children are facing shortages of milk. In Chicago, a local market is running short of canned goods and boxed items.”

Bloomberg News reported this week that, “Chinese authorities are imposing new hurdles for fertilizer exporters amid growing concerns over surging power prices and food production, a move that could worsen a global price shock and food inflation.”

On Thursday, Bloomberg writers Tatiana Freitas and Fabiana Batista reported that, “Brazilian farmer Antonio Carlos Jacobsen usually buys fertilizer a few weeks before planting his corn fields. Soaring fertilizer prices are pushing him to move up purchases for the March seeding — although it may already be too late.”

Des Moines Register writer Donnelle Eller reported this week that, “After last year’s destructive derecho, which flattened corn and stripped soybean across the state, better-than-expected yields and strong prices are making this harvest a profitable one for Iowa farmers lucky enough to have gotten the much-needed rain.”

Bloomberg writers Michael Hirtzer and Kim Chipman reported this week that, “It turns out that 2021 was a pretty good year to be an American farmer.” 

Bloomberg writer Elizabeth Elkin reported on Friday that, “A gauge of North American fertilizer prices soared to a record high, driving up costs for farmers and threatening to worsen food inflation.”

Bloomberg writer Megan Durisin reported on Thursday that, “The jump in global food prices to a decade high risks leading to even more expensive grocery bills, and the energy crisis is threatening to make things even worse.”

Bloomberg’s Mike Dorning reported last week that, “The U.S. Department of Agriculture has potentially found a vaccine to combat African Swine Fever, a disease that devastated hog herds in China and was recently detected in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the agency said Thursday.”

Bloomberg writer Kim Chipman reported this week that, “Corn and wheat rebounded in Chicago as ripple effects from soaring fertilizer prices threatens to squeeze already tight grain supplies.”

Wall Street Journal writers Jesse Newman and Bob Tita reported in Monday’s paper that, “A revival in the U.S. Farm Belt is in full swing, boosting markets for land and equipment and raising concerns over farmers’ escalating costs.”

Reuters writer Nigel Hunt reported last week that, “The International Grains Council (IGC) on Thursday raised its forecast for the 2021/22 global corn crop, predominately reflecting improved outlooks for the United States and Ukraine.”