Thursday, December 13, 2012

Market Update

It was good to see many of you in person at the Oregon Seed League meetings in Salem. While we were talking about grass seed, and Hazelnuts and Blueberries, the USDA came out with their monthly supply and demand report.  And the resulting market action was as we have seen before. Prices going lower.  That is, the agency reports some inventory and export numbers that almost immediately the trade starts to scoff at.  For example the report says that there will be 50 million bushels less export of wheat for the year and then of course that number shows up in the ending year carryout.  Mainly this cut (45 million bushels worth) in exports and ending year increase in stocks came from the Hard Red numbers……….where it has been dry as bone for next year’s crop.  White wheat export expectations were raised 10 million bushels!

The USDA raised Australian wheat production a million tons to 22 million tons while Australia itself says 20.5 million tons.  Argentina’s wheat production was kept at the prediction of 11.5 million tons when many think it might go down to 9.5 million tons.  And as we heard at the Seed League meetings it sounds like an export ban for wheat from Argentina might be coming. 

So what to make of the report.  We have been there and suffered on pricing before following a release of a USDA report. As we know the big buyers usually come to town to buy on these price dips and it is hard to not recognize that the PNW may not have a lot of wheat inventories to carry us through to new crop. I hope 12/12/12 is a lucky day for you all . . . . . . . . .

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