USDA Releases July WASDE Report

Jul 13, 2020

The USDA released its July WASDE report on Friday.

Dan Basse is president of AgResource Company in Chicago.

"The market has reacted somewhat negatively...the report didn't have any major surprises," said Basse. "Maybe a surprise in the report is that China soybean imports were left at 96 million metric tons, both in this crop year, which is just about over with, and the new crop year. USDA is not forecasting that China will take additional soybeans or oilseed crops in that time frame."

He gave an update on U.S. crops.

"So far, so good," said Basse. "We've got some stress down in the southern half of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio...They've seen some drought stress, we need some rain in those areas. We are looking at weather models that are divergent beyond the next seven days but we do have a chance for rain through Tuesday in almost all of those areas. I think it's a question of how much will fall and then do we get that hot, dry forecast later next week."

Click here to see more...

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.