Commodities: Page 32

US corn surplus larger than expected on early harvest

The U.S. corn surplus on August 31 will be larger than previously estimated as farmers begin harvesting early after a warmer-than-usual spring in the Midwest, and as more wheat is used to feed livestock, according to reports. Unsold supplies will come to 801 million bushels, up from the average estimate of 715 million bushels, though still down from 2011's 1.128 billion bushels, said U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Japan to buy 77 percent more feed wheat in 2012-2013

Japan's farm ministry said it plans to buy 77.7 percent more foreign feed wheat in the 2012–2013 year as an alternative to corn, which is usually the main ingredient in Japan's compound animal feed, according to reports. The ministry plans to buy 764,000 metric tons of wheat and 1.288 million metric tons of barley, compared with 430,000 metric tons of wheat and 1.41 million metric tons of barley bought in the 2011–2012 year.

US corn, wheat forecast up, soybeans down

U.S. farmers will plant 95.012 million acres of corn in the current crop year, up from the previous year's 91.921 million acres and above the 94 million acres forecast on February 24, according to a survey conducted by Allendale Inc. Wheat planting is expected to rise to 56.609 million acres, but soybeans are forecast to drop to 74.495 million acres from 74.976 million acres.

Global wheat, soy, corn reserves declining

Global inventories of wheat, soybeans and corn are dropping more than forecast as farmers find themselves unable to keep up with rising demand for food, livestock feed and biofuel, according to reports. Wheat stockpile forecasts for May have been cut by 1.7 percent to 209.6 million metric tons, while soybean reserves for August are now estimated to reach a three-year low of 57.3 million metric tons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

US farmers to plant largest crop since 1984

U.S. farmers will plant the largest collective corn, soybean and wheat crop since 1984 in 2012, according to reports. The 226.9 million acres sown will be a 2.5 percent overall increase that includes the largest corn crop since World War II.

Feed Mill Management

South Africa corn stocks fall 45 percent December 2011

South Africa's corn stockpiles fell 45 percent, to 3.33 million metric tons, in December 2011, according to the South African Grain Information Service. The country had 2.24 million metric tons of white corn and 1.09 million metric tons of yellow corn in stock, according to the agency.

Brazil lowers corn crop harvest estimates

Brazil lowered its harvest estimates for the 2011-2012 summer corn forecast, saying a 13-week drought has caused corn growers to reduce output in a key growing region in that country. Brazil lowered its corn forecast by 4.3 percent from December 2011's estimated 36.44 million metric tons to 34.88 million metric tons, according to AgRural Commodities Agricolas.

USDA reports wheat sales to Mexico, South Korea, soybeans to China

U.S. exporters net sales of wheat for the 2011/2012 marketing year were 604,700 metric tons over the January 13-19 period, up 3 percent from the previous week and 59 percent from the previous four-week average, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Increases in wheat sales for 2011/2012 marketing year were primarily for South Korea, with exports of 196,000 metric tons, Mexico with exports of 126,800 metric tons, and Japan with exports of 85,700 metric tons, as well as Indonesia (61,000 metric tons) and Yemen (50,000 metric tons).

Animal Feed Manufacturing

South Africa feed producers turning to wheat for livestock

South Africa yellow corn prices have increased 39 percent in the last six months and national stocks have dropped 40 percent, causing livestock feed producers to seek out cheaper alternatives like wheat for the first time in a decade, according to reports.

Algae may provide protein in poultry, pig feed

Marine algae may serve as a viable protein-rich supplement to animal feed for poultry and pigs, according to researchers at Cornell University who are studying the material as a possible additive or replacement for corn and soybean meal. The goal is to transform a biofuel byproduct into a commodity, which could free up thousands of acres of cropland, say the researchers.

Laboratory Products and Services

Charm Sciences ROSA FAST5 DON quantitative test kit

Charm Sciences, Inc.

Charm Sciences says the ROSA FAST5 DON quantitative test kit is a five-minute lateral flow test approved by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration for the detection of DON (vomitoxin) in grain. GIPSA-approved commodities include: barley, corn, DDGS, malted barley, milled rice, oats, rough rice, sorghum, wheat, wheat bran, wheat flour and wheat midds.

World corn supplies may fall short of forecasts

World corn supplies may fall 5 to 7 million tons short of U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts due to dry weather in South America that is damaging crops, creating shortages and driving up the price of corn on futures exchanges, according to Toay Commodity Futures Group. Growing areas in Argentina, southern Brazil and Paraguay have received less than 50% of average rainfall since December 1, with the harvest beginning in two months.

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