For now, the corn market is fairly confident of a large crop in 2005, with December 2005 corn futures establishing a new contract low on May 2. However, November 2005 soybean futures are closer to the upper end of the trading range that spans from $5.20 to $6.501/2, said a University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist.

"Soybean prices appear to be more influenced by speculative trading than are corn prices," said Darrel Good. "While soybean prices may continue to be volatile and eventually provide higher price opportunities for selling the 2005 crop, some consideration should be given to protecting the downside risk."

Good's comments came as he discussed the markets in advance of the May 12 release of the USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board's monthly report as well as a report on U.S. supply and demand conditions.

"The latter report will also contain the first projections for the 2005-06 marketing year," he noted.

For the 2004-05 marketing year, only small changes are expected in the projections of use and year-ending stocks of U.S. corn and soybeans, following more significant changes last month. In the case of soybeans, the large domestic crush during March and the current strong pace of exports may result in slight upward revisions in projections of consumption.

"With only about 18 weeks left in the marketing year, weekly U.S. export shipments need to average about six million bushels per week to reach the current USDA projection of 1.08 billion for the year," said Good. "This calculation is based on exports to date as reported by the Census Bureau through February and by USDA through April 28.

"Weekly shipments averaged 15.4 million bushels in April, but will decline as importers turn to South American soybeans. The issue of the size of the 2004 U.S. crop raised by the USDA's March Grain Stocks report will not likely be addressed until the release of the June 1 or Sept. 1 Grains Stocks reports."

Good noted that the projected size of the current South American crop will also be of interest. Last month, the USDA lowered the expected size of the Brazilian crop by about 8.5 percent and the forecast could be lowered slightly in the May report. The forecast of the Argentine crop is expected to be unchanged to slightly lower.

In the case of corn, potential changes in the projections of consumption during the current marketing year are not likely to alter the bottom line of large year-ending stocks. Weekly corn exports need to average about 33.5 million bushels per week from May through August 2005 for the marketing year total to reach the current USDA projection of 1.8 billion bushels.

"That compares to the average rate to date--adjusted by Census Bureau estimates--of nearly 35 million bushels," said Good. "Even if exports are slightly larger than the current projection, year-ending stocks will be abundant."

For the 2005-06 marketing year, projected crop size in next week's report will be based on planting intentions as reported in the USDA's Prospective Plantings report and an adjusted trend yield. Adjustments to trend yields will be based on analysts' perceptions of current planting and crop conditions. An average yield of 145 bushels per acre for corn would result in a 2005 crop projection near 10.75 billion bushels.

"A crop of that size would require use of U.S. corn next year to increase by about 200 million bushels--about 2 percent--above the projection for the current marketing year in order to reduce stocks by the end of the 2005-06 marketing year," said Good. "An increase in projected use is likely and the first forecasts for the 2005-06 marketing year are expected to show a modest reduction in year-ending stocks."

An average yield of 40 bushels per acre for soybeans would result in a 2005 crop projection of about 2.9 billion bushels. That is just about equal to the projected level of use during the current marketing year.

"As with corn, then, the first projections for the 2005-06 marketing year for soybeans are likely to show a modest reduction in year-ending stocks," said Good.

"The May projections for the 2005-06 marketing year will be the starting point from which the market will judge further developments during the growing season. Weekly reports of planting progress and crop conditions, as well as weather and weather forecasts will shape the judgment about potential crop size and will influence the direction of price. The incidence of soybean rust and other crop diseases and pests also holds the potential for significant price impact."

For corn, Good noted, harvest delivery cash bids are hovering near the loan rate in many areas. New crop pricing opportunities will be limited until prices move well above the loan rate, likely requiring a crop concern at some point in the growing season.

"Cash bids for harvest delivery of soybeans are well above the loan rate, forcing a decision about how much of the new crop to sell," he said. "The more attractive soybean prices relative to corn prices are driven in part by the greater uncertainty surrounding the soybean market--South American crop size, Chinese demand, and U.S. production potential."

By Bob Sampson, PhD