Farms.com Home   News

U.S. gradually losing share of world markets

The United States is getting beaten up in crop export markets that it once dominated, says an analyst.

Brazil is body-slamming the U.S. in corn and soybean markets while Russia is pummeling it in the wheat market, DTN lead analyst Todd Hultman told delegates attending the company’s 2023 Virtual Ag Summit.

“Each year that goes by, that competition is getting stiffer and stiffer and we’re feeling more of the pain,” he said.

Two decades ago, the U.S. provided 50 to 60 percent of world corn and soybean exports. That has fallen to under 30 percent for both crops.

Its share of wheat exports has plunged to nine percent from 25 to 30 percent. This year’s wheat export program is expected to be the lowest in more than 50 years.

Brazil’s soybean acres have more than doubled over the last 15 years to 113 million harvested acres. Corn plantings have risen to 57 million acres from 25 million over that same period.

“Last year, Brazil became the world’s largest exporter of corn for the first time ever and it looks like they’re going to maintain that lead by a narrow margin here again this year,” said Hultman.

The country’s corn and soybean acres are growing by two to three percent per year and there is no end in sight.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Residue Management

Video: Residue Management

Residue Management conservation practice manages the amount, orientation, and distribution of crop and other plant residue on the soil surface year-round while limiting soil-disturbing activities used to grow and harvest crops in systems where the field surface is tilled prior to planting. This video explores how Ryan McKenzie implemented this conservation practice on his farm in Samson, Alabama.

Practice benefits:

• Increases organic matter

• Improves air quality

• Decreases energy costs

• Reduces erosion

• Improves soil health

The Conservation at Work video series was created to increase producer awareness of common conservation practices and was filmed at various locations throughout the country. Because conservation plans are specific to the unique resource needs on each farm and also soil type, weather conditions, etc., these videos were designed to serve as a general guide to the benefits of soil and water conservation and landowners should contact their local USDA office for individual consultation.