By Tyne Morgan
The January USDA reports, considered the most influential data releases of the year, delivered unexpected increases in corn yield, harvested acreage and total production, pushing the U.S. corn crop above 17 billion bushels and sending futures sharply lower.
Ahead of the reports, average trade estimates pointed to only minor adjustments, a typical pattern for January. Instead, USDA delivered one of the more consequential end-of-season revisions in recent years, triggering frustration among farmers who struggled with disease pressure and weather challenges during the growing season.