US Winter Wheat Production To Surpass May Forecast

CHICAGO (Dow Jones) -- Informa Economics said U.S. winter-wheat production this year will surpass a May forecast from the Department of Agriculture.

U.S. winter wheat output will total 1.448 billion bushels this year, up 21 million bushels from the USDA's May estimate, Informa said in a report on Friday.

Production of hard-red winter wheat, grown in the southern Great Plains and used to make bread, will total 882 million bushels, up 19 million from USDA's May projection, Informa said. Soft-red winter wheat production will total 353 million bushels, which is four million less than the government's latest forecast, and white winter wheat output will come in at 214 million bushels, about six million above the USDA's May outlook, the firm said.

"Rainfall during May was near normal to slightly below normal across much of the Corn Belt and Hard Red Wheat Belt with parts of Nebraska, Kansas and southern Missouri receiving above-normal rains," according to the private forecaster.

In a separate report released Friday, Informa trimmed its forecast for corn and soybean production in Brazil for the 2015-16 season. The firm said soybean output in Brazil, one of the world's biggest exporters, will total 98.5 million metric tons, which is 1.6 million tons lower than its May forecast.

Brazil's corn crop is pegged at 78.9 million metric tons, which is 2.1 million below Informa's month-ago projection.

Informa also forecast soybean production in Argentina will total 55.0 million metric tons, the same as its May estimate.

Backyard Flocks Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

Seven outbreaks of salmonella linked to backyard poultry flocks have caused 324 cases of illnesses in 35 states since January, according to Meatingplace. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week reported one death in the outbreak. An investigation found the culprit to be human contact with live poultry such as chicks and ducklings from multiple hatcheries. The CDC says the outbreaks are expected to continue for several months as “flock owners might be unaware of the risk of salmonella infection from live poultry.” The agency found 27 percent of the reported illnesses were found in children five years of age or younger. Interviews by the CDC and other agencies found those who became sick said they bought live baby poultry from several different suppliers, including feed supply stores, co-ops, hatcheries and friends.

USMEF: Red Meat Exports Deliver Excellent Returns for U.S. Corn Producers

A study by the U.S. Meat Export Federation finds U.S. beef and pork exports returned $1.3 billion to U.S. corn farmers in 2015. The independent study commissioned by USMEF was conducted by World Perspectives, a leading agricultural consulting firm. Dave Juday, World Perspectives senior analyst, says if there were no meat exports in 2015, corn prices “would have been about $3.15 per bushel,” instead of the season average of $3.60. That would have accounted for a loss of 45 cents per bushel, which Juday says would have amounted to about $6 billion to the corn industry last year.

Former FDA Commissioner Worried over GMO Labeling

Former FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg under the Obama administration says GMO labeling could send the wrong message to consumers. Hamburg says GMO labeling worries her the most, adding she worries about entering a period “of what some call science denialism out of fear,” according to Politico. Hamburg says mandatory labeling potentially sends the message that GMO’s are dangerous. Her comments come as Congress has just two weeks’ worth of working days left to complete a GMO labeling compromise before the Vermont labeling law takes effect. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, and the committee’s ranking Democrat, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, are reportedly still working on a labeling compromise. However, with little time left, some lawmakers, such as Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, are “unconvinced” Congress can pass a deal before July first when the Vermont law takes effect.

Center for Regulatory Effectiveness Calls EPA Atrazine Accusations False

The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness states the Environmental Protection Agency’s new "preliminary" ecological risk assessment relies on computer models to predict environmental effects from use of the herbicide atrazine. The EPA released a draft proposal last week that suggests atrazine is harmful to the environment.The Center says those predictions are not true, adding that there is no real world data showing that EPA's predictions have actually occurred, despite atrazine's widespread international use for more than 60 years. The center claims EPA's unsupported accusations violate EPA's own Model Quality Guidelines, which require that model predictions be consistent with real world data before they are used to regulate.

Thailand, Taiwan Express Interest in Joining TPP

Nations hoping to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership have begun preparations to ensure acceptance when the trade deal opens to new member states. The TPP currently represents 12 countries that account for nearly 40 percent of global Gross Domestic Product. The National Pork Producers Council says the deal would be the “biggest commercial opportunity ever for U.S. pork producers.” Meanwhile, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister last week stressed the need for the country to improve its competitiveness as part of preparations for joining the TPP. Taiwan’s new president previously indicated she wants the island nation to join the TPP and that the country must resolve issues related to imports of U.S. pork products, including its ban on ractopamine. Along with Thailand and Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Honduras and Colombia have expressed an interest in joining the TPP.

US Exports OF Goods And Services Totaled $182.8 Billion In April

(DTN) -- U.S. exports of goods and services totaled $182.8 billion in April, up $2.6 billion from March, while imports increased $4.5 billion to $220.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported early Friday. USDA later provided more details for exports of ethanol, distillers grains and biodiesel.

USDA said that U.S. exports of ethanol totaled 95.5 million gallons in April, up 28% from a year ago and slightly bullish news for ethanol and corn, said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman. China was the top customer, accounting for 36% of April's sales while India and Canada rounded out the top three. In the first four months of 2016, U.S. ethanol exports were up 10% from a year ago.

USDA said that U.S. exports of distillers grains totaled 883,572 metric tons in April, down 5% from a year ago. Mexico and Turkey were the top two customers, taking 33% of April's sales. China was a big buyer in 2015, but was third on the list in April with its total imports of U.S. distillers grains now down 56% in 2016 from a year ago. In the first four months of 2016, U.S. exports of distillers grains were down 2% from a year ago -- a neutral influence for corn prices, Hultman said.

USDA said that U.S. exports of biodiesel totaled 34,606 metric tons in April, up 2% from a year ago. Canada was the dominant buyer in April, taking 90% of the month's exports. In the first four months of 2016, U.S. biodiesel exports were up 21% from a year ago, a minor bullish influence for soybean oil prices, Hultman said.