Archive for the 'Biofuels' category

Delayed Corn Emergence

Author: Michael Ferrari, PhD
VP, Applied Technology & Research
 

The table above from this week’s USDA Crop Progress report underscores the effect that delayed planting this year has exerted on emergence of the crop.  In spite of planting progress that has picked up over the last 10 days, some regions may start to run into situations where [...]

US Corn Outlook Strengthening

Author: Michael Ferrari, PhD
VP, Applied Technology & Research
Earlier in the week, we noted that the US corn planting conditions have been suboptimal, with planting pace significantly behind both last year and the five year average for this date.  Cold wet weather has slowed field activities, particularly in the northern and central growing [...]

Weather Trends Sugar Update

Author: Michael Ferrari, PhD
VP, Applied Technology & Research
 
Following the run up to nearly 33 cents, world (#11) sugar futures have retreated and stayed in the 22-24 cent range for much of the week.  The market is expecting strong production numbers from Brazil and India, the two largest producers, and there seems to be optimism among [...]

Food Prices Hit New High

Author: Michael Ferrari, PhD
VP, Applied Technology & Research
 
In a Bloomberg report this morning, the current food supply and price situation was aptly described as ‘Kitchen Table Economics.’  With uncertainty over the direction of food costs, underscored by a recent UN statement showing prices at new highs, where do we go from here?

In any given year, [...]

North China Plain Rainfall

Wheat futures may have come down with analysts talking about the rains in China alleviating some of the stress, but it should be noted that this is an area where the drought is classified as severe, and a few days of rain, totaling under 2", is not the sign of a reversal. The maps below [...]

Global sugar deficit should not be news

 Author: Michael Ferrari, PhD
VP, Applied Technology & Research
The recent proliferation of articles discussing a deficit in the global sugar balance should not be news.  The market awareness of a potential supply shortage that has given another constructive surge to the raw sugar market is most recently being connected to Tropical Cyclone Yasi, which made landfall [...]