(NAFB.com) – The USDA has begun catching up after the government shutdown, releasing the latest available sales data showing exports of corn and wheat as of October 16 were well above year-earlier levels. However, soybean sales, as expected, have plunged compared to last year. Accumulated exports of corn from the start of the marketing year were reported at 10.684 million metric tons, a 58 percent year-over-year increase. Wheat sales from June I through October 16 totaled 11.355 million metric tons, up 23 percent from the same period a year earlier. USDA said soybean sales from September 1 through mid-October came in at 6.726 million metric tons, down 32 percent on an annual basis. Overseas buyer commitments to purchase corn stand at 35.366 million tons, up 37 percent year-over-year. Commitments to buy U.S. wheat from June 1 through mid-October stand at 16.4 million tons, up 22 percent. Soybean commitments are down 38 percent year-over-year.
