overview
Processed soybeans are the largest source of protein feed and vegetable
oil in the world. The United States is the world's leading soybean
producer and exporter. Farm value of U.S. soybean production in
2002/03 was $15.2 billion, the second-highest value among U.S.produced
crops, trailing only corn. Soybean and soybean product exports accounted
for 47 percent of U.S. soybean production in 2002. Soybeans equal
about 90 percent of U.S. total oilseed production, while other oilseedssuch
as cottonseed, sunflowerseed, and peanutsaccount for the remainder.
ERS analyzes events in the domestic and international oilseed markets
that influence supply, demand, trade, and prices.
contents
features
Economic and Policy
Implications of Wind-Borne Entry of Asian Soybean Rust into the
United States examines how the potential economic impacts of
soybean rust in the United States will depend on the timing, location,
spread, and severity of rust infestation and on how soybean and
other crop producers, livestock producers, and consumers of agricultural
commodities respond to this new pathogen.
Peanut Policy Change
and Adjustment Under the 2002 Farm Act examines the experience
of the peanut sector following the 2002 Farm Act's elimination of
the marketing quota system. Although peanut prices and acreage declined
following elimination of the marketing quota, increased planting
flexibility has allowed growers to expand production in higher yielding
areas; and sector revenues are expected to be relatively stable.
recommended readings
How Does Structural
Change in the Global Soybean Market Affect the U.S. Price? concludes
that South American soybean production, combined with the U.S. soybean
stocks-to-use ratio, provides a strong basis for forecasting U.S.
soybean prices. The article estimates that a 1-percent increase
in South American soybean production decreases U.S. soybean prices
by about one-quarter percent.
China: A Study of Dynamic Growth
assesses China's rapid economic growth since 1978, which has been
driven by high rates of investment, gains in productivity, and liberalized
foreign trade and investment. China's growth is likely to continue,
but the Chinese economy faces some potentially unsustainable pressures,
including possible currency appreciation, rising rural-urban inequality,
unemployment, banking reforms, and an unusual combination of inflationary
and deflationary tendencies.
India's
Edible Oil Sector: Imports Fill Rising Demand examines factors
underlying India's emergence as the world's leading importer of
edible oils and evaluates U.S. export prospects. Income and population
growth, trade policy reforms, and domestic agricultural policies
affecting the productivity of India's oilseed farmers and processing
sector have contributed to increased consumption and import demand.
See all recommended readings...
recommended data products
Monthly tables from the Oil Crops
Outlook contain the latest data on U.S. production, imports,
domestic use, exports, and prices for each of the major oilseeds,
vegetable oils, and oilseed meals.
Oil Crops
Yearbook provides key data on U.S. and world oilseed acreage,
supply, demand, and prices. It includes data on U.S. soybeans, cottonseed,
peanuts, sunflowerseed, other special oilseeds, tropical oils, corn
oil, and animal fats, as well as extensive time series data sets
on U.S. oilseeds markets. The tables
also are available in Excel (*.xls) format.
Soybean Costs and Returns
provides data and analyses for regional and national categories
back to 1975.
Foreign Agricultural Trade of the United
States (FATUS) provides U.S. agricultural exports and imports,
volume and value, by country, by commodity, and by calendar year,
fiscal year, and month, for varying periods, such as 1935 to the
present or 1989 to the present. Updated monthly or annually.
Production, Supply &
Distribution (PS&D) contains official USDA data on production,
supply, and distribution of agricultural commodities for the United
States and major importing and exporting countries. The database
provides projections for the coming year and historical data for
more than 200 countries and major crop, livestock, fishery, and
forest products.
WTO Agricultural Trade Policy Commitments Database
contains data on implementation of trade policy commitments by WTO
member countries. Data on domestic support, export subsidies, and
tariffs are organized for comparison across countries. This queriable
database offers various options for viewing and downloading data.
newsletter
Oil Crops Outlook
provides an update each month (except in October) of market developments
for soybeans, other oilseeds, and their products.
related briefing rooms
Agricultural baseline projections
U.S. agricultural trade
Farm and commodity policy
Farm income and costs
Farm structure
related links
Websites of other USDA agencies, the Department of Commerce, and
universities contain valuable information on soybeans and other
oil crops.
See all related links...
maps and images gallery
View maps of U.S. soybean and sunflower acreage and yield by county,
and soybean growing regions in the United States and five other countries.
See all maps and images...
for more information, contact:
Mark Ash or Erik
Dohlman
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: October 21,
2004
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