September 10, 2010

CBOT corn surges as hot weather threatens US output

Corn prices on September 9 jumped to the highest level since October 2008 on speculation that the recent heat wave in the US Midwest hurt the corn crop more than the government might admit.

Analysts said the crop will total 13.189 billion bushels, on average, compared with the government's August estimate of 13.365 billion. Temperatures in the Midwest last month averaged 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius), three degrees above the 60-year average, according to MartellCropProjections.com in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.

"Early corn yields are disappointing in central Iowa," said Kent Jessen, the director of merchandising for Heartland Cooperative in West Des Moines, Iowa. Yields in Heartland's territory, which covers locations along 150 miles of Interstate 80, look to be at least 10 % below last year, he said. Iowa is the biggest corn-producing state.

Corn futures for December delivery rose 8.25 cents, or 1.8%, to close at US$4.7075 a bushel at 1:15 p.m. on the Chicago Board of Trade. Earlier, the price touched US$4.72, the highest level for the most-active contract since October 2008.

The price has gained 37% since June 29, the day before the government said that farmers planted less this year than they had planned.