b'Following the U.S. elec- vented planting, says Sauder.program until around January tion, will a different adminis- For the last 10 years, U.S.when Brazil beans come tration continue to dole outgrain exports as a percent- backup online. The ChinaKEY QUESTIONS FOR 2021money to farmers? The finan- age share of world demandtrade war disrupted process cial payments have allowedfor corn, soybeans and wheatin 2018 and 2019, but in 20201 What will be the some farmers to fall intohas been declining. Russia,we already have a lot moreresults of the their old habits of being poorUkraine, Brazil and Southbusiness on the book. ThatNovember 2020 merchandisers as the influxAmerica now dominate theis getting back to a moreelection? Who will be of cash has allowed themsoybean market. The Unitednormal plan, which has helpedin office?to delay decision making,States is being asked to carrybean acres. Already this year, Sauder says. This was evidentthe residual grain.we have not seen such a big in the June stocks reportWe have become apull-back in prices, largely2 Legislative which showed the producerresidual supplier as we havebecause there has been auncertainy makes holding the largest percent- the best infrastructure,good domestic demand forit difficult to predict age of June corn stocks in 20ample storage to carry cropsbeans and improved exportthe next yearyears.forward, the best bankingdemand. whats up with With corn and soybeans,system, a developed inlandChina? Whats up we are trying to find out whatriver transportation system,Weather and Climate with tariffs? is a new normal. Does restau- and reliable railroad access toTypical climate conditions in rant demand come back fullports in several areas of thethe U.S. Midwest are already swing? Is there still an increasecountry, Sauder says. Andchanging in noticeable ways. in at-home eating? This will bemaybe most important, weThe date of the last spring an interesting trend to watch.have a grain contract every- frost, for example, has been3 COVID-19 affects the reading as well How we consume proteins atbody has confidence in. Theprogressively advancing earlier ethanol demand the restaurant is different thangrain elevator operators areand earlier in the year, length- is lower than normal at-home eating. Consumptionusually able to profitably carryening the growing season byas is restaurant is more efficient at homethe grain, and the farmer canabout a week over the previ- demand. Whats the where we use everything. get paid to carry as well. Thereous century. The frequencynew normal?Farmers got off to a goodhave been some global toughof heavy rainfall events has start planting. However, therespots for wheat during the lastapproximately doubled over was a record drop of 5 million2-3 years when Russia has hadthat same time, increasing the corn acres from the Marcha down crop and Australia hasrisk of flooding for states with4 Of course, the most intentions report to the Junehad back-to-back droughtsmajor rivers, including Illinois,unpredictable part of planting report. Farmers didthat reduced its production.Iowa and Missouri. reading the tea leaves not want to plant a crop theyThis allowed the U.S. exporterWere expecting a La Niais the weather and could not market profitably.to step in to meet some of thewinter this year (2020-2021),climate. What will Nor had they hedged theirdemand and the grain eleva- which means were about tothe next year look like crops, so they were free to cuttor was rewarded for carryinghave a winter much differentin terms of weather? back on their planting inten- the crop.than the past few. Weve beenWill we have another tions. At the same time, weSoybeans have expandedon the El Nino side of thingscold winter, but warm had wet conditions in areasinto northward into thefor years now, and its aboutspring?like the Dakotas where someDakotas and Minnesota. Thentime it finally makes its flip, intended corn acres went intoin 2019, the trade war hurtsay Tim and John Konrad, prevented planting (PP). those producers becauseUnofficial Networks, Squaw5 How will La Nias For areas where weatherthey do not have the stor- Valley, Cali. Im expecting thisinfluence work when caused delays, the farmerage capacity to carry a lotto be a cold and snowy winterit comes to rain in looked at the markets whichof soybeans. Elevators in thisfor the Rockies, Great Plains,2021? showed prices below costarea tend to export soybeansMidwest, Great Lakes and of production. This made itduring harvest to the PacificOhio Valley. There is one thing easy for them to hold back onNorthwest. This creates aIm sure of: it wont be as bad planting acres and claim pre- big front-end loaded exportas last winter.SEPTEMBER 2020SEEDWORLD.COM /49'