That pattern has generally unfolded with some differences between corn and soybeans and between old-crop and new-crop prices.
“For old-crop corn prices, July 2013 futures peaked at $8.24 on August 10, 2012, nearly $3.00 above the June 2012 low,” Good said. “That contract is currently trading near $6.50, well below the peak, but still above the pre-drought level. Due to an inverted price structure, spot-cash prices have been above July futures in much of the Corn Belt since January 2013, and that strong basis continues.
“Prices remain generally high as it is not yet clear that the small crop of 2012 has been sufficiently rationed,” Good continued. “Exports remain weak, but ethanol production is rebounding from the low levels in the first half of the marketing year. Uncertainty still surrounds the magnitude of feed and residual use of corn. There is some expectation that the slow rate of use for the second quarter of the marketing year, implied by the March 1 stocks estimate, will be followed by a higher rate of use, implied by the June 1 stocks estimate to be released by USDA on June 28. That report will indicate whether sufficient rationing has been accomplished and will set the direction for old-crop prices,” he said.
For new-crop corn, prices have completed the transition back to pre-drought levels, Good said. December 2013 futures peaked at $6.64 on Sept.10, 2012, about $1.50 above the June 2012 low. That contract is currently trading just over $5.15, about $0.05 above the summer 2012 low.
“This past week of rapid corn planting progress has reduced some of the concern about acreage and yield prospects,” Good said. “A larger-than-average percentage of the 2013 crop will be planted later than is optimum for maximum yield potential, but there is growing confidence that the 2013 crop will be large enough to meet market requirements at much lower prices than experienced over the past year. However, the season for determining average yield and production is just beginning,” he said.
Good said that soybean prices have behaved similarly to corn prices but are still well above pre-drought levels. July 2013 futures peaked at $16.05 on Sept. 14, 2012, about $3.85 above the June 2012 low. That contract is currently trading near $14.60, still in the upper half of the trading range of the past year. Due to the ongoing futures price inversion, spot-cash prices in the Corn Belt have been above July futures all year, with basis levels strengthening in recent weeks. Old-crop prices are being supported by prospects of a minimum level of year-ending stocks and the need for consumption to remain under the pace of a year ago.
