January 19, 2011

US feed grain supplies for 2010/11 is predicted at 380.3 million tonnes, a decrease of two million from last month and down 17.5 million from last year.

Total feed grain use is projected slightly higher at 357.7 million tonnes this month. Domestic use of the four feed grains is raised 0.4 million tonnes this month to 304.1 million. This increase is the result of higher projected feed and residual use for sorghum. Feed grain exports for 2010/11 are lowered slightly this month to 53.6 million tonnes, as sorghum exports are reduced. The decrease in feed grain supplies combines with an increase in domestic use to lower expected ending stocks 2.2 million tonnes to 22.5 million. In 2009/10, ending stocks for the four feed grains totalled 48.1 million tonnes.

Feed and residual use for the four feed grains plus wheat converted to a September-August marketing year is down 2.3 million tonnes to 142.6 this month because of decreases in projected feeding of corn and wheat. These are partially offset by higher sorghum feeding. Grain-consuming animal units are forecast at 92.7 million, up from 92.5 million last month, due to increases in beef and broiler production in 2011, which is partially offset by lower pork production. The increase in beef production reflects placements of cattle during the fourth quarter 2010 that will be ready for slaughter during mid-2011. Broiler production was increased due to relatively heavy bird weights. Feed and residual use per animal unit is lowered to 1.54 tonnes, down from 1.57 tonnes last month.

Small supply and use changes were made for feed grains in 2009/10; production is lowered 0.4 million tonnes to 348.6 million. Domestic use is lowered to 294.9 million tonnes with a 0.5-million-tonne reduction in feed and residual use to 137.1 million. Ending stocks are unchanged at 48.1 million tonnes for 2009/10. These changes are mainly due to lower estimated corn production for 2009/10.