NC Ag Situation & Outlook 2016: Coping with the Downturn Dr. Blake Brown Hugh C. Kiger Professor Agriculture & Resource Economics College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
U.S. Farm Income to Fall to Lowest Level in Nine Years USDA predicts a 36% decline amid a slump in commodity prices and another large harvest Wall Street Journal, August 25, 2015
High on the Hog: Farm Income Soars Bumper Corn, Soybean Harvests Help Raise Outlook Farm incomes in America are expected to hit their highest level in four decades this year, Wall Street Journal November 26, 2013
140 120 U.S. Net Farm Income $ Billions Market Government 100 80 60 40 20 0 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
160 140 120 Ag Prices Received Index (Base Year = 2011) Crops Livestock 100 80 60 40 10 11 12 13 14 15
Global Economy
Global GDP growth: modest projected upturn (given smooth slowdown in China and more robust investment in advanced economies) Global GDP Real GDP Annual percentage changes 2014 2015 2016 2017 World 1 3.3 2.9 3.3 3.6 United States 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.4 Euro area 0.9 1.5 1.8 1.9 Japan -0.1 0.6 1.0 0.5 China 7.3 6.8 6.5 6.2 India 2 7.3 7.2 7.3 7.4 Brazil 0.2-3.1-1.2 1.8 1. Moving nominal GDP weights using purchasing power parities. 2. Fiscal years starting in April. Source: OECD November 2015 Economic Outlook database. 7
Weaker import growth in China is a key element of the broader trade slowdown Chinese import growth has slowed sharply China: Real GDP and import volumes This has exerted downward pressure on commodity prices Commodity price changes and China s share of global consumption Note: 2015 is change in the first three quarters vs 2014. Import volumes are deflated based on OECD estimates. Nominal imports during the first three quarters of 2015 were down 8 per cent. Sources: OECD November 2015 Economic Outlook database. Note: Commodities shown are aluminium, coal, copper, iron ore, lead, natural gas, nickel, oil, uranium and zinc. Sources: IMF; BP Statistical Review of World Energy; 8 World Bureau of Metal Statistics.
Exports are vital to US Agriculture
$4,500 NC Agricultural Exports $4,000 $3,500 m i l l i o n s $3,000 $2,500 $2,000 $1,500 Other Tobacco Cotton Grains& Soybeans Vegetables Chicken Pork $1,000 $500 $0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Brazil is our biggest competitor in the global market for agricultural products Brazil s economy is in deep recession and the value of Brazil s currency has fallen
120 PRODUCTION Soybeans: US and Brazil (million metric tons) 100 80 EXPORTS 60 40 20 0 2013/2014 PRODUCTION 2014/2015 PRODUCTION 2015/2016 PRODUCTION 2013/2014 EXPORTS 2014/2015 EXPORTS 2015/2016 EXPORTS US Brazil
1 Exchange Rates: Brazilian Real (R$) per Euro and US$ per Euro 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 R$/EURO US$/EURO 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0
Soybean Price/bushel: US$ vs Brazilian Real (R$) 2013 vs 2015 US$ Price Exchange Rate: R$/US$ R$ Price Nov 2013 12.70 2.2795 28.95 Nov 2015 8.73 3.8417 33.57
Cotton
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 160 150 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 December Cotton Futures Cents/Pound Dec-14 Dec-15
Million Bales Million Metric Tons World Cotton Ending Stocks 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 U.S. ROW China 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14e 15f 26.1 24.0 21.8 19.6 17.4 15.3 13.1 10.9 8.7 6.5 4.4 2.2 0.0
Million Bales Million Metric Tons World Cotton Production 150 32.7 125 27.2 100 21.8 75 16.3 50 10.9 25 5.4 0 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14e 15f 0.0
Million Bales Million Metric Tons World Fiber Mill Use 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 47.9 Cotton Polyester 43.6 39.2 34.9 30.5 26.1 21.8 17.4 13.1 8.7 4.4 0.0 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13e 14f *PCI
Flue-Cured Tobacco
Ending Stocks of US Flue-Cured (million lbs) 900 800 700 600 500 400 269 million lbs 300 200 100 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015E 2016P Global Supply: U.S., Brazil and Zimbabwe Flue-Cured Tobacco Production 2500 2000 451 million lbs 1500 1000 500 0 Zimbabwe US Brazil Source Brazil & U.S.: Universal Corporation. World Leaf Production as of Nov 4, 2015. Source Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Tobacco Association Weekly FCV Report 10.05.2015
The combination of lower crop production and expected reduced plantings should result in a largely balanced global leaf market in fiscal 2017. Davenport & Company, LLC. November 6, 2015
US Flue-Cured Price, Production, Exports and Domestic Disappearance 700 $2.50 600 500 $1.76 $1.75 $1.69 $1.68 $1.98 $2.12 $2.03 $2.00 $1.85 400 $1.47 $1.50 $1.53 $1.50 300 $1.00 200 100 $0.50 - $0.00 Exports Domestic Use Production Price
1 Exchange Rates: Brazilian Real (R$) per Euro and US$ per Euro 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 R$/EURO US$/EURO 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0
350000000 300000000 250000000 U.S. Unmanufactured Exports of Flue-Cured Tobacco (lbs farm weight) 200000000 150000000 100000000 World EU27 PRC 50000000 0 Source: USDA-FAS
2015 World Flue-Cured Production 8.8 billion pounds Other 24% U.S. 6% Brazil 12% Zimbabwe 4% PRC 54% Quality is the strategic advantage of U.S. flue-cured producers
Peanuts
Peanuts Peanut production is driven by the Peanut Program primarily in the runner areas Likely payment for 2015 crop base acres: Reference price: $535/ton Marketing Year Average Price: $400/ton (likely) Payment Rate: $135/ton Payment on 85% of base acres: $115/ton Payment after 7.2% sequestration reduction: $107/ton (best guess)
Peanuts You don t have to plant base acres to get the payment The allocation of your payment on generic base is determined by how you allocate planted acres..generic base is allocated in proportion to the acres planted for the covered crops The allocation of generic base acres is an annual decision based on planted acres Georgia s 2013 cotton base acres: 1.49 million NC s 2013 cotton base acres: 849 thousand
US & NC Peanut Production 8000000 7000000 6000000 5000000 4000000 3000000 2000000 1000000 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 US NC
7000000 US Peanut Stocks (as of Aug 30) and Production 6000000 5000000 4000000 $498/ton $440/ton 3000000 2000000 1000000 0 2013 2014 2015 Stocks Production
Cost & Return Estimates for Major NC Crops Flue-cured Tobacco Sweet Potato Peanuts Cotton Corn Soybeans Price $1.85/lb $15/cwt $425/ton $0.60/lb $4.25/bu $9.00/bu Yield/acre 2200 lbs 200 cwt 3800 lbs 891 lbs 110 bu 33 bu Revenue $4,070 $3,000 $808 $535 $468 $297 Operating Expense $2,907 $2,500 $696 $543 $382 $237 Return over Operating $1,163 $500 $112 -$8 $86 $60 Fixed Cost $514 $86 $133 $70 $72 $36 Return Land, Risk & Mgt $649 $414 -$22 -$78 $14 $24
Poultry & Livestock
Production US Meat Production and Prices 2014 Projected 2015 Projected 2016 Billion Pounds Beef 24.32 23.78 24.91 +4.75% Pork 22.86 24.53 24.94 +1.67% Broilers 38.14 39.78 40.54 +1.91% Turkey 5.76 5.57 6.01 +7.9% Prices Feeder Cattle $/cwt 202.82 207.12 200-211 Live Cattle $/cwt 154.56 149.19 136-147 Hogs $/cwt 76.03 50.82 47-50 Broilers cents/lb 104.90 89.50 83-89 Turkeys cents/lb 107.90 117.10 110-118 % Change 2016 from 2015 Source: USDA WASDE (Nov 2015) Source: USDA-ERS (Nov 2015)
General Themes Global weakness in demand & Strong $ Translates to weaker demand for US exports Large production & growing stocks Bottom Line: Bigger Supply & Weaker Demand Depressed Prices
What will it take for markets to improve? Lower production lower supplies Strengthening and/or stabilizing global markets in particular China and the EU Recovery of foreign currencies relative to the US$...in particular strengthening of Brazil s currency, R$
Tips for Coping
Tips for Coping Know your costs/ Know your cash flow You can t make decisions if you don t know how the decision will change your costs and returns You can t make decisions to ensure you meet your cash flow obligations unless you have an accurate cash flow projection Create a financial roadmap (plan) for your farm
Preserve Working Capital Cash is King Consider capital purchases extra carefully don t purchase unless the asset generates cash flow and is profitable
Tips for Coping Know your costs/ Know your cash flow Preserve Working Capital Manage your costs Re-examine production practices But make sure that if you reduce an input cost that it will not reduce your revenue more than it reduces your cost
Tips for Coping Know your costs/ Know your cash flow Preserve working capital Manage your costs Re-examine production practices Manage your debt early! Does the term match the asset? e.g. land do you need to restructure to a longer term? It s a lot easier to work with your lender now than after you get in trouble with payments But of course you ll have to know your costs and your cash flow to do this
Tips for Coping Manage your equipment Did you overbuy during the boom? Does it make sense to sell some equip even at a loss? Good money after bad doesn t make a good decision Be careful restructuring debt on equipment selling at a loss may make more sense know your cash flow Maybe you were careful not to overbuy during the boom this year might be a good year to replace some old equipment know your cash flow But don t overbuy, even if there are killer deals know your cash flow If you really need equipment consider leasing instead of purchasing
Tips for Coping Know your costs/ Know your cash flow If you can t recover your variable (out-of-pocket) costs and some of your fixed costs.don t plant it
Tips for Coping Know your costs If you can t recover your variable (out-of-pocket) costs and some of your fixed costs.don t plant it Examine your land rentals Renegotiate if possible is keeping that farm really profitable and feasible?
Tips for Coping Know your costs If you can t recover your variable (out-of-pocket) costs and some of your fixed costs.don t plant it Examine your land rentals Renegotiate if possible is keeping that farm really profitable and feasible Re-examine any decisions you have to make about the farm program Planted acres determines allocation of generic base
In summary Know your costs/ know your cash flow create a plan Manage debt early Manage your equipment Preserve working capital Cash is King Change will come it always does What lessons can we carry forward to the good times?