Fast Growing Crops On Pace For Records

Record production of major commodities appears to be in the "makign" as summer starts. Days will grow shorter, as crops grow taller from now until harvest. In South American markets the opposite is true, the days will grow longer as "winter" deepens to their opposing Springtime. Equatorial opposition is a reality for agriculture in the 21st Century, after Brazil cleaned up vast areas of "Pampas" grasses and brushy cattle lands to become the second largest cereal and oil seed producing region in the world. Since most all technology and guidance comes from U.S. industry and experts, we might choose to think of Brazil and Argentina as our "southern gardens". American investment is obvious, but Brazilian and Argentine exploitation of that investment has become a powerful force. Expect rising production from Asian growing areas to become the new story ahead. While the "bread basket" and "soy story" may have been our past, the "rice bowl" a dozen other major agri-production crops we American's have little touch with may be the real miracle ahead. What has not changed much since Borlaug's "Green Revolution" started is how close to the edge of world produciton starvation hovers. We're not yet able to guarantee a Biblical "7 years of Plenty", but perhaps we have a better shot against seven years of famine.

Export-import players bear watching, and animal agricluture continues to grow in developing countries hungry for "meat" as part of their diets. While not efficient at converting grains, livestock in general are gaining more than fat, and becoming healthier parts of more balanced diets worldwide. We'll be watching global trendlines to assess changes that impact you.

(Ag Journal Editorial)

(CRNET Staff Report)