Indiana corn prices during the first three quarters of this year averaged $6.31 per bushel, with a September average of $5.36 per bushel.
Since September prices have dropped sharply. The most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report indicates that corn prices could remain low for the foreseeable future. Using the iFarm price distribution tool in late November, corn prices for the July 2024 futures contract at the 25th percentile, the 50th percentile, and the 75th percentile were $4.41, $4.89, and $5.42, a bushel, respectively.
The $4.41 price ($5.42 price) indicates that there is a 25% chance that the corn price will be below $4.41 (above $5.42) per bushel at the expiration of the July contract. Obviously, lower expected corn prices will translate into lower expected feed costs during the first part of next year. This article examines trends in feed costs as well as the impact of corn and soybean meal prices on feed costs for farrow-to-finish and swine finishing operations.
It is important to note that the swine finishing enterprise represented in this article assumes the finishing of an early-weaned pig. The rations for the farrow-to-finish and swine finishing enterprises consist of corn, soybean meal, dry distillers’ grain, and supplements. Corn prices represent averages for Indiana as reported by U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Soybean meal and distillers’ grain prices are obtained from Feed Outlook, published monthly by USDA-Economic Research Service. Information from Agricultural Prices, a monthly USDA-NASS publication, was used to compute supplement prices. Late November futures prices for corn and soybean meal were used to project feed indices for 2024. Feed cost indices are reported on a closeout month rather than a placement month basis.
Corn, soybean meal prices
The current corn price is below the long-run average, but current soybean meal prices are above the long-run average.
Futures prices suggest that corn prices are likely to remain below their long-run average well into next year. Soybean meal prices, on the other hand, are likely to remain above their long-run average. The impact of these corn and soybean meal projections on feed costs are discussed below.
Farrow-to-finish enterprise
The average feed cost index since 2007 is 75.6. The feed cost indices for the first, second, and third quarters of 2023 were 106.3, 104.9, and 102.6, respectively. The feed cost index is projected to decline from 102.6 in the third quarter to approximately 94 in the fourth quarter. Early projections for the first two quarters of 2024 suggest that the feed cost index could range from 79 to 86 during the first six months of next year.
After averaging approximately 102 in 2023, the projected feed cost index for 2024 is 81, which indicates that feed costs in 2024 are expected to be 21% lower than they were in 2023.
Swine finishing enterprise
The latest full year of indices, 2022, has an index of 100 so all indices outside of this year are expressed in relative terms. The average index for the period beginning in 2007 is 75.5. The average index for 2023 is projected to be 101. Similar to the feed cost index for farrow-to-finish production, the swine finishing feed cost index for 2024 is expected to be substantially below the 2022 and 2023 indices. The expected index for 2024 is 83, which if realized would be 18% below the average feed cost index in 2023.
Feed costs are sensitive to changes in corn and soybean meal prices. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between swine finishing feed cost, and corn and soybean meal prices during the January 2007 to December 2022 time period. Results are as follows: each 10 cents per bushel increase in corn prices increases feed cost per hundredweight by $0.43, and each $10 per ton increase in soybean meal prices increases feed cost per hundredweight by $0.36. Obviously, a $0.50 increase or decrease in corn price would have a large impact on feed cost per hundredweight.
Current feed cost is approximately $42.75 per hundredweight. Corn prices range from $4 to $5 per bushel and soybean meal prices range from $350 to $450 for the first and second quarters of 2024. At the lower range of prices, feed cost per hundredweight would be approximately $33. At the higher range of prices, feed cost per hundredweight would be approximately $41.
Average feed costs in 2023 were similar to those experienced in 2022. However, current projections for 2024 indicate that feed costs could be approximately 20% lower in 2024. Current projections use corn prices ranging from $4.25 to $4.75 per bushel, and soybean meal prices ranging from $400 to $450 per ton.
Corn and soybean prices will be impacted by weather conditions around the world as well as other supply and demand factors. Volatility of feed ingredient prices is essential to note. Each $0.10 per bushel change in corn price, changes feed cost by $0.43 per hundredweight. Similarly, each $10 per ton change in soybean meal price, changes feed cost by $0.36 per hundredweight.
Michael Langemeier is the associate director for the Center for the Commercial Agriculture at Purdue University.
