Grain and oilseed prices continue to decline in the United States

Prices for grains and oilseeds continued to decline last quarter, weighed down by a strengthening U.S. dollar, crop arrivals from South America and ample domestic supplies, CoBank Knowledge Exchange said in a new quarterly report. Prices for corn, grain sorghum, barley and oats fell significantly from last year, while soybeans, cotton, spring and durum wheat rose in price, the report said. "But a lot could happen with the weather and markets that would change the balance this spring," said Tanner Ehmke, lead grains and oilseeds economist at CoBank. "Low water levels in the Mississippi River are already indicating possible delays in grain and oilseed shipments." US corn acreage forecasts are cut 4.9% from last year as falling prices and a strong US dollar discourage planting. The area under sorghum decreased by 11%, and under barley and oats - by 14%. Corn stocks total 8.35 billion bushels, up 13% from last year. Corn exports were high, especially to Mexico. But next quarter, when ...