Corn hits all-time high; heat proves relentless

Corn prices raced to a record high yesterday as the hot, dry summer relentlessly pounded crops across much of the country. Corn for September delivery gained 21.5 cents, or 2.7 per cent, to end at US$8.20 per bushel (25.4 kilogrammes; 56 pounds), which was an all-time high. December corn rose 20.75 cents, or 2.6 per cent, to end at US$8.14 per bushel. Soybeans rose 2.6 per cent. Expectations are mounting that harvests will be smaller than anticipated for both crops because of the drought, which covers some two-thirds of the continental US. There is little rain in forecasts for August. Corn fields, particularly east of the Mississippi River, have been hit the hardest. Some farmers are harvesting what they can salvage to sell for livestock feed. Others may forgo harvest and leave the fields alone, analysts say.

 

Most analysts believe the corn crop is beyond repair now. That is driving up prices because global inventories on hand already are tight. Soybeans, which are planted after corn, also are suffering the ill-effects of the dry, hot weather.  Some analysts think at least a portion of the crop could be salvaged if substantial rain hits within the next couple of weeks, while others think it may be too late. “There are some areas where those beans are just too far gone, and it's been so hot and so dry it’s causing a tremendous amount of stress,” said John Sanow, a Telvent DTN analyst. Global soybean inventories also are low, which is helping keep prices up. Soybeans for November delivery rose 41.75 cents, or 2.6 per cent, to end at US$16.435 per bushel.