Another strong week on board of trade

Grain markets continued bullish motion on the Chicago Board of Commerce final week. Close by March corn futures gained 193⁄4 cents, near the 20-cent acquire of the week earlier than. Soybeans have now gained over a greenback within the final two weeks.

The corn futures excessive was made the final day of January at $6.421⁄2. The contract then tanked, closing down a dime for the day.

The soybean futures, nevertheless, have remained sturdy. New highs in outdated and new crop soybeans had been made the morning of Feb. 1. The March futures traded by way of one other magic quantity, attending to $15.02 briefly. We had been most not too long ago buying and selling at $14.991⁄2, however that’s nonetheless up eight and three-quarters cents.

November soybean futures have additionally traded at a brand new excessive, at $13.731⁄4. We had been most not too long ago two cents under that, however nonetheless up over a nickel.

Within the case of corn, we’ve lastly peaked above the outdated March futures excessive made clear again in early Might, at $6.401⁄2.

Soybeans

Within the case of soybeans, we had been making huge strides above the outdated highs in each outdated and new crop. The outdated November futures excessive was $13.133⁄4 June 7. We’ve got gained nearly 60 cents since then. The outdated March futures excessive was the identical day at $14.451⁄2, so we’ve gained 561⁄2 cents since then.

The power of the soybean futures had been predicated totally on dry climate in southern Brazil and in Argentina. In actual fact, there was important rain in the previous few days in these dry areas, however the market has continued to rally.

The basics of this rally lean towards the concept that the protection, at perhaps 50% in Argentina and fewer in Brazil, is just not full; the harm is already finished, and present forecast are usually not for continued rain. The truth that the rally continues within the face of precise rain, nevertheless, is critical. It is a rally that the market clearly desires to see proceed.

Corn

The corn rally is totally different in that it to date has simply managed to make new highs, after which the March futures, particularly, dipped sharply. It is a market that’s searching for a high and sees a sell-off at a slightly new excessive.

There are basic causes for the corn worth rise. We’ve got seen sturdy exports and good livestock margins, and cash appears to be shifting from a stalled Wall Avenue into commodity markets.

China continues to take supply on earlier contracts, encouraging observers that they’ll end executing on their commitments. As well as, we noticed gross sales to our neighbors, which now embrace not simply Canada and Mexico, however others in Central and South America.

The ethanol trade continues to soak up corn at a close to–file tempo, regardless that margins have declined.

Wheat

The wheat markets proceed to see a shakeout following this 12 months’s horrible spring wheat manufacturing. The Minneapolis spring wheat market misplaced 62 cents final week, whereas the arduous purple winter wheat market of Kansas Metropolis was unchanged and the Chicago delicate purple winter market was really up 15 cents.

Merchants appear to be adjusting to the scarcity of spring wheat and are night up the values between markets.

We are actually into February and nonetheless in that harmful winter interval after we are wanting information that strikes markets. The information we await is centered across the finish of March U.S. Division of Agriculture planting intentions report, after which early spring climate.

Present costs would encourage corn planting aside from the ugly reality that enter prices are so excessive that $6 wheat futures doesn’t imply we could have huge internet margins within the nation.

Farmers have each motive to change acres to the high-flying beans. Hidden on this situation is the demand for acres from the small grains, the place crops like oats have had file costs and low manufacturing prices in comparison with corn or soybeans.

That is the time of 12 months after we discuss financial causes for switching acres, and the prospects of doing so. The truth is that the swap is just not simple for many farmers, who are typically locked right into a given rotation. The speak appeals extra to economists than farmers.

So, we wait to see what’s forward, and anticipate new highs in commodity costs as we wait.