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How changes in carryout impact grain prices - now and in coming months.

Naomi Blohm, senior market adviser

October 14, 2021

7 Min Read
Corn and soybeans on 3 $100 bills
Getty/iStockphoto

Farmers have been busy with harvest. Basis levels have been staying firm. The thought (or perhaps hope) was that ending stocks for corn and soybeans were tight enough, and that, in return, would keep prices firm throughout harvest.

But that sentiment changed this week when the USDA increased carryout levels for both corn and soybeans higher than trade had anticipated.

Should we have seen it coming?

Technically speaking, the corn and soybean futures markets have been giving topping signals since early summer; bearish reversals on charts, prices unable to trade higher than technical resistance levels on charts, and USDA reports that were just not quite friendly enough to justify another leg higher.

Then the rains came in August. Then the hurricane, which shut down U.S. grain exports at the Gulf due to grain terminal damage. The icing on the cake was the Quarterly Stocks report, when USDA found more old crop soybeans.

Prior to August, for the most part, corn and soybean prices had been trading in a sideways consolidation pattern, waiting for fresh news to emerge to justify a price breakout. Farmers were hoping for higher prices. However, USDA emphatically said otherwise earlier this week on the October WASDE report. The report shows bigger old crop supplies of corn and soybeans which translates into bigger new crop supplies of corn and soybeans -- and ultimately lower prices.

U.S. soybeans old crop ending stocks comparison by month

Soybeans

Looking back, you can see in this image how the ending stocks for soybeans got smaller, beginning last fall. Every time the ending stocks got smaller; the soybean futures price inched another notch higher. Then late last spring into early summer, ending stocks on paper, according to USDA, started to slowly increase. Once ending stocks were perceived to be getting larger, that was then the price high for soybean futures.

The July 2021 futures contract had a price high of $16.67-1/2 on the day of the May 12 USDA report. For new crop, there was an early price spike high on the May 12 USDA report of $14.61 using November 2021 futures. Then the ultimate price high for November 2021 soybean futures occurred just days before the June 10 USDA report, coming in at $14.80.

U.S. soybeans new crop ending stocks comparison by month

Note how ending stocks for the 2021-22 crop went from 140 million bushels up to 155 million bushels in June. That increase in ending stocks sealed the deal for any additional price rally. Then you can see how on the July and August USDA reports, new crop soybean ending stocks stayed at 155 million bushels, keeping the November 21 soybean futures price in a sideways holding trade pattern.

Daily chart of November 2021 soybean futures

As soybean ending stocks then continued to increase on each monthly USDA report, you can see how the price of soybean futures began to decrease. And now here we sit with new crop ending stocks potentially as large as where they were nearly one year ago. And the price of soybean futures at that time was closer to $10.

Daily chart of July 2021 soybean futures

Will that be the price fate for soybeans again? Much depends on South American weather during their heart of their growing season during January and February. Also, current perception is that due to high input prices, many farmers may plant higher soybean acres next spring, which would lead to higher endings stocks.

Corn

Ending stocks for corn for the 2020/21 season are still substantially lower than one year ago. One year ago trade was battling the notion of 2.5 billion bushels of corn carryout and $3.00 corn. Ending stocks for the 2020/21 season are half that, with the most recent USDA report pegging supplies at 1.236 billion bushels.

U.S. corn new crop ending stocks comparison by month

U.S. corn old crop ending stocks comparison by month

Similar to soybeans, as corn ending stocks got smaller and smaller, futures prices went higher and higher. Prices peaked in spring with $7.35 July 2021 futures occurring just days before the May 12 USDA report. While ending stocks did get slightly tighter in summer months, futures prices did not increase much, and instead local cash markets and basis did the work to reflect tight supplies as the July 2021 contract expired, and September became front month.

Daily chart of Dec 2021 corn futures

Note that similar to the soybean story, once the perception was that ending stocks were growing, corn prices started to slither slowly lower.

And here prices sit. Old crop ending stocks are without a doubt still historically tight. Basis continues to reflect that. But looking ahead to the 2021-22 crop year, ending stocks are looking like they may be at a potentially comfortable 1.5 billion bushel level.

Back in January, February and March of 2020, the 2020-21 ending stocks sat at 1.5 billion bushels for three months, and corn prices traded sideways for those three months with July 2021 corn futures trading between $5.00 support and $5.50 resistance on charts. Huh. Pretty darn similar to what the Dec 2021 futures contract is doing right now. As well as the Dec 2022 futures contracts. Why?  Because corn carryout is back to 1.5 billion bushels (for the 2021-22 crop year). For the moment, 1.5 billion bushels of carryout seems to justify $5.00 corn futures.

Daily chart of Dec 2022 corn futures

As long as corn carryout for the 2021-22 crop year do not get larger than 1.5 billion bushels, we may see $5 corn futures stick around for a while. Especially since input costs are so bloody high, most farmers tell us that they need $4.75 to $5 cash corn to justify planting corn next spring!

What to watch now

Looking ahead, trade will continue to monitor three things: the value of the U.S. Dollar, U.S. demand for corn and soybeans (exports, biofuels, and feed) and South American weather.

Just remember, if perception is that ending stocks are growing, corn and soybean futures prices will continue to slide lower. However, if perception is that ending stocks are starting to again get tighter, that will be supportive for prices going forward.

Reach Naomi Blohm: 800-334-9779 Twitter: @naomiblohm and [email protected].

Disclaimer: The data contained herein is believed to be drawn from reliable sources but cannot be guaranteed. Individuals acting on this information are responsible for their own actions. Commodity trading may not be suitable for all recipients of this report. Futures and options trading involve significant risk of loss and may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. No representation is being made that scenario planning, strategy or discipline will guarantee success or profits. Any decisions you may make to buy, sell or hold a futures or options position on such research are entirely your own and not in any way deemed to be endorsed by or attributed to Total Farm Marketing. Total Farm Marketing and TFM refer to Stewart-Peterson Group Inc., Stewart-Peterson Inc., and SP Risk Services LLC. Stewart-Peterson Group Inc. is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as an introducing broker and is a member of National Futures Association. SP Risk Services, LLC is an insurance agency and an equal opportunity provider. Stewart-Peterson Inc. is a publishing company. A customer may have relationships with all three companies. SP Risk Services LLC and Stewart-Peterson Inc. are wholly owned by Stewart-Peterson Group Inc. unless otherwise noted, services referenced are services of Stewart-Peterson Group Inc. Presented for solicitation.

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of Farm Futures or Farm Progress. 

About the Author(s)

Naomi Blohm

senior market adviser, Total Farm Marketing by Stewart Peterson

Naomi specializes at helping farmers understand how to manage cash marketing needs and understand the importance of managing basis, delivery point considerations, cash flow needs and storage capacity. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Agriculture Business at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville. She has a Master of Science in Adult Education with an emphasis in Ag Economics from the UW-Platteville and a Master Certificate in Global Education, from the UW-Oshkosh.

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