Opinion

Should I Store Corn Or Beans This Year If I Am Limited On Space?

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Market Commentary for 10/8/21

With harvest in full swing, many farmers are asking me “which crop should I store if I am limited on space?”

What to Store at Harvest

My farm operation has over 100% on-farm storage capacity, and I highly recommend most farmers should as well. Having 100% on-farm storage capacity not only simplifies harvest storage decisions and increases flexibility, but it also allows for more low-risk opportunities to maximize profit potential.

Despite the benefits, many farmers are still resistant to having more storage for a variety of reasons. Those farmers will need to analyze their own basis opportunities, market carry profitability and their operating note interest to determine what is more profitable for them to store at home. Following shows how I like to calculate each one.

Futures Values Do NOT Matter When Deciding Which Crop Should Be Stored

This runs contrary to what many farmers think. Futures values should not be considered because one can always sell grain for cash and then immediately re-own futures in a brokerage account and maintain nearly the same market downside risk and/or upside potential. In other words, the risk is almost the same to have unpriced grain in a bin as having long futures position in a hedge account.

I know that some people will suggest re-ownership through options is a better way to do this, but that is a conversation about which risk management strategy is better. Both ways are trying to accomplish the same end goal of capturing upside potential in the futures market. That is NOT my focus with this newsletter.

Consideration #1 – Basis Opportunity

Basis is the difference between the price on the board of trade and a local cash bid. Basis is constantly changing throughout the year, but historically it trends higher from harvest until summer.

For example, right now in the western belt, basis values for corn and beans are trading 30 cents higher than usual for this time of year, while corn is about 15 cents higher at most end users. So, how much could basis values in this area potentially rally harvest through June? With what we know today, it seems reasonable to estimate next spring’s basis values will be similar to the levels we saw last spring. Therefore, this would suggest the upside basis value potential for corn is higher than beans, so selling beans now over corn might be the better choice.

However, in the eastern belt bean basis is not nearly as strong and it is more of toss up as to which crop farmers should store from a basis perspective alone.

Still, it is hard to predict where basis values will end up going. One reason is that freight is extremely tight right now and fuel costs are up substantially for every mode of transportation. This could continue to influence basis values and farmer’s options for where the grain can be moved after harvest.

Consideration #2 - Market Carry

Market carry is when the price of futures in the summer months are higher than the current month. However, market carry can only be collected if the futures values are already set but the basis and delivery dates are still open. If the grain does not have a futures sale against it, then market carry opportunity isn’t available, and this consideration should probably be skipped for determining which crop to store.

If a farmer has both crops priced, even on a small portion of their production, market carry for each crop should be considered. Currently corn’s market carry from the December contract to the March is 9 cents and 15 cents to the July. Beans have an 11 cent carry to the January contract, a 20 cent carry to the March, and a 34 cent carry to the July.

Since beans have more market carry opportunity, this suggest there is more profit potential right now to store beans over corn.

Consideration #3 – Interest on an Operating Note

There is a cost to hold grain in storage, continuing to use the bank's money, and not pay the operating loan off. It is calculated by taking the interest rate on the operation note against the cash value of grain being stored.

For example, with a one-year operating loan interest rate of 4%, multiplied by the cash values of each crop at harvest (let’s assume $5 for corn and $12 for beans), divided by 12 for a monthly rate and the cost per month to store corn is 1.66 cents per bushel while beans are 4 cents per bushel.

Since the cash value of beans is always significantly higher than corn, the interest cost to hold beans will always be higher and likely indicate corn is the better crop to be stored.

Other Considerations - Income Needs & Bin Capacity

Sometimes farmers also need end of year income to offset expenses. Again, since bean values are always higher, more income can be generated moving beans over corn.

Plus, corn weighs 56 lbs compared to beans weighing 60 lbs for the same bin space. This means bins can hold 7% more corn than beans, which could be a slight benefit for storing corn.

Farmers could also cut their beans and store them short term to speed up bean harvest, and then unload the bin soon after to store any remaining corn still standing in the field. This allows for double bin usage on farms with limited space.

Beans Export Timetable

Most beans are exported out of the US during the winter, with the highest demand being October through January. Most corn exports happen after beans are gone, so logistically storing corn may mean more profit potential down the road.

Storing Corn Over Beans

For those with limited space I usually suggest moving beans over corn. Interest costs alone usually outweigh the risk of upside basis potential, and it frees up 7% more bin space. Plus, most producers tell me it is easier sending trucks directly to the processor or elevator during bean harvest than managing logistics of long lines during corn harvest.

100% On-Farm Storage Makes Decisions Easy

While we can outline what to analyze to help make the decision on what to store, there are still a lot of unknowns and unexpected market variables that will always make this a difficult decision. That’s why I recommend farmers have 100% on-farm storage capacity. It takes a lot of guesswork out of their grain marketing strategy and makes it easier to maximize a farm operation’s profit potential.

Want to read more by Jon Scheve? Check out recent articles:

Can Bullish Wheat Stocks Be Enough To Pull Corn Prices Higher, Even With Too Many Beans Left In Storage?

Did Beans Bounce Off a Seasonal Low?

Asking the Right Questions When Discussing Early Yield Results

Did The Corn Market Just Establish $5 As This Season's Price Floor?

Will Corn Pull Back To $5? Are Beans Finished Going Down?

No, Oats Do NOT Know & Lumber Prices Have No Bearing On Grain Values

Seasonal Pull Back In Prices as Harvest Approaches, But Will It Last?

Corn And Bean Prices Can Potentially Rally Going Forward

The Spread Between Posted Bids And Prices End Users are Willing To Pay Could Be More Than 60 Cents

How I Save Time And Money By Hiring Commercial Trucks To Haul Grain Off My Farm

Why Inverse Markets Mean Farmers Should Sell Their Grain Now and Not Later