Pa respite for the corn cutters. The combine harvesters tirelessly crisscross the fields and spit out a continuous stream of yellow grain. After barley and wheat, the time for corn has come. The atmosphere is lighter than last year. In 2022, drought and extreme heat caused part of the harvest hopes to evaporate. Nothing like this this year, although temperatures have often risen to higher levels than usual. The rain, starting in mid-July, brought relief to the farmers.
As a result, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, French grain corn production is expected at 12.1 million tonnes, up more than 10% year-on-year, despite more limited cultivated areas. Another reason for satisfaction, well worth a little adage from behind the fagots: “Who says sunny harvest, says grain already almost dried. » The summer weather at the beginning of October therefore conveniently reduced the corn drying bill.
Now it remains to market it. How much will the grain gain? The question haunts the mind of the corn farmer. He looks away from the line of ears planted in his fields to examine the curve of grain prices on the markets. The conclusion is clear. The price of corn is plummeting. After the trumpet blast in May 2022, when it shattered its records at 316 euros per tonne on Euronext, it is now close to the 200 euros per tonne mark. Since the beginning of January, the decline has been around 30%. “We have to go back to September 2021 to find a similar corn price”underlines Arthur Portier, consultant at the Agritel firm.
lost crown
Prices are collapsing under the weight of global harvests. “In the United States, even if record hopes have been dashed, corn production is expected at 384 million tonnes, the second best historical performance”, says Mr. Portier. And yet, despite this abundant collection, the land of popcorn should not regain its lost crown, in 2023, as the world’s leading exporter of yellow grain. From now on, the country of samba leads the way. With its two annual harvests, Brazil is expected to accumulate 129 million tonnes of grains this year.
Even in Ukraine, the lights are green. “Ukraine could harvest 29 million tonnes of corn, a level comparable to that of 2020. This may be surprising, but most of the crops are not grown in occupied areas. However, farmers will have to store on the ground, because the capacities of the silos are limited, and the harvest could last until February.explains Mr. Portier.
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