USDA’s January estimate is for reduced U.S. corn production at 14.9 billion bushels, down 276 million as a 3.8-bushel per acre cut in yield to 179.3. U.S. exports are cut 25 million bushels to 2.450 billion reflecting lower supplies. USDA notes that supply is falling more than use and the result is that U.S. corn stocks are lowered 198 million bushels. The season-average corn price received by U.S. producers has risen 15 cents to $4.25 per bushel. China corn production is raised to a record 294.9 million tons based on the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Corn production is higher for Russia based on the latest information from Rosstat. Global corn stocks, at 293.3 million tons, are down 3.1 million...
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.