By Archie Flanders, Agricultural Economist

The primary components of market conditions that determine prices for U.S. field crops are the supply and demand situation for each crop and the value of the dollar. Supply and demand conditions are indicated by stocks-to-use ratios which are reported monthly by U.S.D.A. Crop prices attempt to ration supply with anticipated demand to achieve equilibrium stocks-to-use throughout the marketing year. More current supply and demand information – February 2016