April 1, 2021
Corn, cotton and soybean markets surge as USDA reports 2021 planting intentions
By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Corn, cotton and soybean futures prices all increased by more than 30 percent above same-month 2020 prices
- Arkansas rice acreage down 14 percent
- Arkansas peanuts continue to gain acreage as buying points grow
(795 words)
LITTLE ROCK — As world markets slowly unfurl from the global knot of the COVID-19 pandemic, futures markets for both soybean and corn responded in a powerfully positive manner Wednesday to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Prospective Plantings Report.
The report, conducted by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, reflects producers’ intended acreage for crops across the country based on a survey of about 78,900 farm operations.
Within an hour of the report’s publication, soybean prices were up 70 cents a bushel, and corn up 25 cents — the respective market limits for daily price increases on those commodities. Cotton prices increased by more than a dollar per hundredweight, closing at $80.10 per cwt.
Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, described the markets as “running red hot” in the immediate wake of the USDA publication.
Soybeans
In Arkansas, soybeans, the state’s No. 1 crop, rose 6 percent to hit a planned 3 million
acres. Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the Division of Agriculture,
said that acreage forecast may be low.
“From talking to soybean producers, I would expect the soybean acreage to be higher than the 3 million acres projected,” Ross said. “Especially if we get some good weather after this week.”
Nationally, soybean acreage increased 6 percent, to about 87.6 million acres.
Corn
Arkansas corn saw a substantial increase of 13 percent to 700,000 acres. Jason Kelley,
extension wheat and feed grains agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said the
rising market prices for corn at the end of 2020 were expected to prompt greater acreage
this year.
“With good planting weather over the next couple weeks I would think 700,000 acres could be easily achieved,” Kelley said.
Nationally, corn acreage gained only 1 percent, rising to about 91.1 million acres.
Ironically, both soybean and corn acreage fell short of industry expectations, Stiles said.
“Ahead of the report, the average industry guess for soybean acres right at 90 million,” Stiles said. The final number was “up 5 from last year, but not the number the trade was expecting.
“U.S. soybean supplies are very tight going into 2021,” he said. “87.6 million does not increase ending stocks. The market emphatically said today it has to reach for more acres. Similarly, 91.4 million corn acres is not expected to increase ending stocks either.
“There's a fierce competition now between corn and soybeans for acres,” Stiles said. “Soybeans really need to pick up 2.5 million more acres to increase stocks just marginally in 2021.”
Cotton
Even as prices have risen for cotton, planned acreage for the state dropped 7 percent
from 2020’s 525,000 acres, down to about 490,000 acres. Bill Robertson, extension
cotton agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said the decrease in acreage reflected
the comparative ease — and lower input costs — with which corn and soybeans can be
successfully grown.
“You really have to borrow a lot of money to plant cotton or rice,” Robertson said. “There’s just a lot of risk involved. It’s much cheaper to plant corn, and cheaper still to plant soybeans.”
Nationally, the change in planned cotton acreage was essentially flat, falling less than 1 percent from 2020 acreage to about 12 million acres.
Rice
Planned rice acreage declined significantly, both in Arkansas and across the United
States.
In Arkansas, growers reported intended acres at about 1.25 million acres, a 14 percent drop from 2020’s approximately 1.46 million acres. Nationally, planned rice acres fell 11 percent, to about 2.7 million acres.
Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said the decline in Arkansas rice acreage met industry expectations.
He said he had expected acreage to be down 10 percent at a minimum.
“Further decreases would depend on rotational crops and prices,” he said. “A good April planting window will be key to keeping the acres in the report, as planting delays will likely give way to more soybeans given the current price situation there.”
Peanuts
Peanuts, while still a relatively small player in Arkansas commodities, continued
its steady, years-long gains, increasing by 15 percent to 45,000 acres. Andy Vangilder,
agriculture and natural resources educator for the Cooperative Extension Service,
said the increasing number of buying points in Arkansas and neighboring states has
made the crop more attractive to producers who might otherwise grow cotton.
Peanuts “have continued to be profitable as long as the weather cooperates,” Vangilder said. “I know that Delta Peanut has shown interest in attracting new customers and adding some more acres if producers are interested.”
Futures market prices for corn, cotton and soybean all rose 32, 32 and 38 percent in year-over-year comparisons, respectively. Rice futures also rose year-over-year, but at a more modest 8 percent.
Overall, crop acreage in Arkansas rose about 1.4 percent over 2020 acreage.
To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Ryan McGeeney
Communications Services
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
rmcgeeney@uada.edu