Practical Alternatives for Forecasting Corn and Soybean Basis in the Eastern Corn Belt throughout the Crop-Marketing Year
By: Thompson, Nathanael M.; Edwards, Aaron J.; Mintert, James R.; Hurt, Christopher A.
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Citation
Thompson, Nathanael M.; Edwards, Aaron J.; Mintert, James R.; Hurt, Christopher A., Practical Alternatives for Forecasting Corn and Soybean Basis in the Eastern Corn Belt throughout the Crop-Marketing Year, Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Volume 44, Issue 3, September 2019, Pages 571-590
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Abstract
This paper re-evaluates practical methods of forecasting corn and soybean basis in the eastern Corn Belt. The accuracy of forecast methods differs over the course of the crop-marketing year. At harvest, historical moving average forecasts perform best. Post-harvest forecasts may be improved at short forecast horizons (<8'12 weeks ahead) by combining historical moving averages and recent basis levels. Results suggest that using 3-to-5-year moving average forecasts for corn basis and a 2- or 5-year moving average for soybean basis from harvest through April. The accuracy of these corn and soybean basis forecasts decreases markedly during the summer months.