Market Watch

The implications of the current meltdown in U.S. credit markets is a major concern for agricultural commodities because it calls into question the potential for economic growth in the United States and the rest of the world, according to University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist Darrel Good.

“That concern is reinforced by the sharp decline in [...]

It’s obviously a crime against humanity that this kind of financial speculation is allowed to continue. It’s one thing to have speculation on the price of widgets or car parts, but it’s another thing to have speculation in the fount of human life…. This should be a wake-up call to help us realize that food [...]

Corn is responsible for most of the uncertainty in the market, and much of that is associated with the U.S. situation, according to University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist Darrel Good.

Late corn planting suggests that planted acreage may not significantly exceed producer intentions of only 86 million acres. Based on an analysis of trend yields [...]

The corn and soybean markets need to offer the right incentives for corn and soybean acreage in 2008, according to University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist Darrel Good.
That means prices should generally favor corn over soybeans for the U.S. spring planting, and then soybean prices should be high enough from about August forward to encourage [...]

With corn, soybean, and wheat prices at lofty levels, some temporary declines in prices might be expected, but there is little to suggest that prices will move significantly lower in the near term, according to University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist Darrel Good.
More acreage of all three crops may be needed in the United States [...]

Wheat prices appear to have peaked for the time being, according University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist Darrel Good.
Prices may remain generally high, but very volatile as 2008-09 production prospects, both acreage and yield, unfold. The USDA’s Winter Wheat Seedings report, to be released the second week in January, will provide the first indication of [...]