WASDE Report is Out and USDA Data Questioned
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**The USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report shows the 2025-26 U.S. corn outlook is for greater exports and lower ending stocks.
Exports were up 100 million bushels to 3.3 billion, but with no supply changes and use rising, corn ending stocks dropped by 100 million bushels.
The U.S. soybean supply and use projections are unchanged.
The wheat outlook calls for unchanged supplies, modestly lower domestic use, unchanged exports.
**It’s well-known the U.S. cattle herd continues to shrink.
The January U.S. Cattle Inventory report showed the total inventory at 86.2 million head, down 300,000 from last year.
American Farm Bureau analysis showed the combination of fewer beef cows and a declining calf crop means the 2026 calf crop will likely continue to trend downward.
Tighter cattle supplies will contribute to higher prices and volatility for cattle and beef in 2026.
**The USDA is facing doubts about the reliability of its data from farmers, grain traders, and economists.
Reuters says the doubts are because of USDA’s significant staff losses and the upward revision in how many corn acres were harvested last year.
Thousands of employees left USDA last year as a part of the administration’s push to shrink the federal government, and stakeholders are worried that limited the agency’s ability to produce timely and accurate data.
