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Do Markets Correct for Smoothing in USDA Crop Production Forecasts? Evidence from Private Analysts and Futures Prices

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  • Olga Isengildina-Massa
  • Berna Karali
  • Scott H Irwin

Abstract

This study evaluates whether smoothing (positive correlation in subsequent revisions) in USDA corn, soybean, and wheat production forecasts is likely to result in misallocation of economic resources. Smoothing, like any other type of forecast inefficiency, implies that some of the information in these forecasts is predictable. Based on the evidence of smoothing, we decomposed market surprise and forecast revision into predictable and unpredictable components. Our results show that futures markets tended to react only to the unpredictable component, therefore indicating that market participants were aware of smoothing and adjusted for it in forming their price expectations.

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  • Olga Isengildina-Massa & Berna Karali & Scott H Irwin, 2017. "Do Markets Correct for Smoothing in USDA Crop Production Forecasts? Evidence from Private Analysts and Futures Prices," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 39(4), pages 559-583.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:apecpp:v:39:y:2017:i:4:p:559-583.
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    Cited by:

    1. Berna Karali & Scott H. Irwin & Olga Isengildina‐Massa, 2020. "Supply Fundamentals and Grain Futures Price Movements," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 102(2), pages 548-568, March.
    2. Fiechter, Chad & Kuethe, Todd & Zhang, Wendong, 2023. "Information Rigidities and Farmland Value Expectations," ISU General Staff Papers 202306131414240000, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    3. Jesse Tack & Keith H. Coble & Robert Johansson & Ardian Harri & Barry J. Barnett, 2019. "The Potential Implications of “Big Ag Data” for USDA Forecasts," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(4), pages 668-683, December.
    4. Adrian Fernandez‐Perez & Bart Frijns & Ivan Indriawan & Alireza Tourani‐Rad, 2019. "Surprise and dispersion: informational impact of USDA announcements," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 50(1), pages 113-126, January.

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