CropReports.com

Reports We Cover

Our goal is to provide analysis and simplification of a variety of commodity reports quickly and accurately. We currently cover reports from the USDA and other sources that relate to the supply and demand of select commodities. We will continue to add more reports and commoditites to our coverage. We currently cover the following reports for corn and soybean:

• WASDE - World Agricultural Outlook Board USDA
• Weekly Exports Sales - Foreign Agricultural Service
• Crop Progress - USDA
• Crop Condition - USDA
• Comittment of Traders - Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Crops We Cover

We currently cover corn and soybean for all of our reports, and are working to add additional crops in the future. We plan to include, wheat, rice and cotton soon, and eventually all crops covered by the USDA.

Live Report Release

Our Live Releases bring you the report information as soon as it is released. No checking emails or following links, our Live Releases load new report data to your screen instantly as soon as a new report is released. To watch a Live Release, simply navigate to our Live Release page for the report you want and wait for the timmer to countdown to zero!

Our Sources

All of the data we report is released into the public domain by the reporting agency. We provide a link to the source data for all reports and encourage our users to familiarize themselves with the source data.

WASDE - World Agricultural Outlook Board USDA

Each month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) publishes crop supply and demand estimates for the Nation and the world. These estimates are used as benchmarks in the marketplace because of their comprehensive nature, objectivity, and timeliness. The statistics that USDA releases affect decisions made by farmers , businesses, and governments, by defining the fundamental conditions in commodity markets. When using USDA statistics, it is helpful to understand the estimating procedures used and the nature and limitations of crop estimates. Several agencies within USDA are responsible for preparing crop statistics. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) forecasts U.S. crop production based on data collected from farm operations and field observations. Forecasts for each crop season begin with a winter wheat and rye seedings report in early January followed by a March report that gives a first look at what farmers intend to plant. This is followed in late June by a report of the acreage actually planted. Monthly yield and production forecasts begin in May for winter wheat, in July for spring wheat and other small grains, and in August for other spring-planted crops, concluding with estimates of actual production at the end of the harvesting season. NASS also conducts quarterly surveys of grain and soybeans stored on and off farms. The World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) coordinates an interagency process that prepares monthly forecasts of supply and demand for major crops, both for the United States and the world , and follows a balance - sheet approach to account for supplies and utilization. The major components of the supply and demand balance sheet are beginning stocks, production, domestic use, trade, and end-of- season carryout stocks. Whereas forecasts of U.S. crop production and estimates of U.S. stocks on hand are independently prepared by NASS, U.S. and foreign supply and demand forecasts are developed jointly by several USDA agencies. The NASS Crop Production report and the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates ( WASDE ) report are prepared simultaneously in a secured area and released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time between the 9th and 12th day of each month. Joint preparation enables USDA analysts to incorporate the new NASS production forecasts of U.S. crops into supply and demand estimates. These estimates provide an overview for more detailed analyses published by other agencies of USDA, especially the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and the Economic Research Service (ERS). Country-level data published by all USDA agencies must be consistent with the supply and demand numbers released by NASS and WAOB. USDA strives to provide the agricultural community with estimates that are accurate, objective, reliable, and timely. Security measures are used to prevent leaks of market-sensitive information. The agencies conduct research to improve estimating techniques. The following discussion provides a closer look at how USDA arrives at its estimates, the data sources used, and the policies governing initial reports and revisions.

Source: USDA

Weekly Exports Sales - Foreign Agricultural Service

USDA's Export Sales Reporting Program monitors U.S. agricultural export sales on a daily and weekly basis. Export sales reporting provides a constant stream of up-to-date market information for 40 U.S. agricultural commodities sold abroad. A single statistic reveals the significance of the program: in a typical year, the program monitors more than 40 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports. The program also serves as an early alert on the possible impact foreign sales have on U.S. supplies and prices. The weekly U.S. Export Sales report is the most current available source of U.S. export sales data. The data is used to analyze the overall level of export demand, determine where markets exist, and assess the relative position of U.S. commodities in foreign markets. Why the Program was Created The Export Sales Reporting Program has its roots from the unexpected purchase of large amounts of grain by the Soviet Union in 1972, “The Great Russian Grain Robbery”. The huge, unanticipated purchases of U.S. wheat and corn that year depleted U.S. reserve stocks wh ich caused a sizable run-up in U.S. food prices. Furthermore, there was growing concern that some companies might have an unfair advantage in situations like this because they had access to market-sensitive information that was unavailable to the public. To ensure that all parties involved in the production and export of U.S. grain had access to up-to-date export information, Congress mandated the Export Sales Reporting program in 1973. Before the program was established, it was difficult for the public to obtain information on exports until the products were actually shipped. The program helps facilitate price stability by guaranteeing that everyone has access to the same information at the same time. How the Program Works The program requires both daily and weekly reporting of export sales. Weekly reporting is required for certain reportable commodities including: feed grains, wheat, wheat products, rye, flaxseed, linseed oil, cotton, cottonseed, oilseeds and products, rice, cattle hides and skins, beef and pork. U.S. exporters are also required to report all large sales activity made in a single day to a single country for certain commodities by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the business day after a sale is made. Large export sales of certain commodities are defined as 100,000 metric tons (20,000 tons for soybean oil) or more of one commodity in one day to a single destination, or cumulative sales of 200,000 tons (40,000 tons for soybean oil) or more of one commodity during the weekly reporting period to a single destination. The commodities covered by the Export Sales Reporting Program have been selected for monitoring by Congressional action or through consultations between USDA and organizations that represent commodity producers and traders. The Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to add any commodity that the Secretary wishes to the list of commodities that are monitored. U.S. exporters provide information on the quantity of th eir sales transactions, the type and class of commodity, the marketing year of the shipment and the ultimate destination. They also report any changes to previously reported information, such as cancellations or changes in destinations. About 370 exporters report on a weekly basis via online , fax and e-mail, with approximately 1,300 data entries each week. All data remains confidential, as required by law, and is released only in aggregate form.

Source: FAS_USDA

Crop Progress and Conditions

The Crop Progress and Conditions survey provides frequent and timely updates of farmer activities such as planting and harvesting, progress of crops through various phenological stages of development, and crop condition ratings throughout the growing season. All states participate in the survey. Each state maintains a list of reporters, largely extension agents and Farm Service Agency staff, who report progress and conditions of selected crops in their area for the current week. Nearly every county in every state has at least one reporter. Reports returned each week account for over 75 percent of the acreage for major commodities. The Crop Progress report is released at 4:00 PM on the first business day of each week from April 1 to November 30. Each issue has crop progress tables for major crops and may have as many as 11 crop condition tables, depending on the time of year. Each progress table lists the current week, previous week, previous year, and 5 year average for selected states and the U.S. The condition tables list the percent rated very poor, poor, fair, good, and excellent for the selected states and the U.S. Printed copies of the report are distributed to representatives of the media and agribusiness. The report is also loaded to the NASS website for access by the general public and is available via e-mail subscription. In addition, several graphics are created from the progress and condition tables and these are loaded to the internet as well. In addition to the national Crop Progress report, each state office publishes a state release. Users may subscribe and receive a mail version of a state=s release or access the state releases from the state office websites. States also produce condensed summaries which are merged together and published on the NASS internet website on the second business day each week.

Source: NASS_USDA

Commitment of Traders

Source: NASS_USDA