This table should be used as a guide as yields, prices, and expenses will vary among producers and locations. This table looks at crop prices as of May 10, 2012 for 2012 and can give a glimpse of what crop profitability is in Tennessee as of this date. One of the expense items that have to be watched is fertilizer. Fertilizer cost, particularly nitrogen prices have gone up recently for producers who did not have it already priced. I have updated the table below to reflect this higher cost.   For reference, in variable expenses below, fertilizer expense per acre is estimated as follows: cotton – $ 155, Soybeans – $53, Corn – $186 (includes 150 units of N), Milo – $145, and wheat/soybeans – $138. Continue reading →

Corn

In today’s report, USDA updated the old crop stocks and put forth their first official estimate of the new crop year. This report is being perceived as bearish as old crop stocks were raised rather than cut and new crop stocks are projected to be more than double old crop stocks .For new crop stocks, this could be the largest estimate of the year as the fallout from corn prices trending lower, soybean prices stable to trending higher, and higher nitrogen prices could cause a few corn acres to shift to soybeans. A record yield is projected and to be achieved will depend on ideal conditions. Lower corn prices may also stimulate additional demand. Continue reading →

Dry weather forced most producers to temporarily quit planting soybeans last week and into this week with planting resuming in limited areas that received rains this weekend.  We are about 25% planted at this point but without enough moisture to get seedlings out the ground in many parts of the state, seeds are better off in the bag.  Stands have been uniform and look good for beans planted in late April and the first few days in May but some folks that pushed it on moisture are going to have mixed results with partially emerged stands that will need to get some rain to finish the job.  Beans that are Continue reading →

Some fields that missed showers for the ‘nth’ time this spring are dry without a doubt. The bigger corn is trying to twist during the warmest parts of the day and overall color is more variable even where side dress nitrogen has been applied.  Continue reading →

The phone has been ringing regularly the last few days with reports of fairly high thrips numbers, mostly adults, on seedling cotton.  Most of our cotton is less than the two leaf stage.  I’m not too surprised considering the wheat is drying down just as our cotton is emerging.  Averages of 2 – 8 thrips per plant are being reported, with a few Continue reading →

From Chris Main, Brian Leib, David Verbree, and Larry Steckel. 

Rainfall continues to be spotty across Tennessee. Some locations have continued to have adequate moisture while other areas continue to miss the passing thunderstorms. Continue reading →

Scouring Rush

Over the past several years many have had concerns about scouring rush creeping into crop production areas.  Scouring rush is not a typical agronomic weed. It normally grows along fence rows, ditch banks, and low lying areas.  However, in long term no-tillage production systems scouring rush is increasingly encroaching into crop production areas. 

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As reported by NASS on May 7, 2012

SCATTERED SHOWERS PROVIDE LITTLE RELIEF

Unusually high temperatures and sunny days combined to minimize the benefits of scattered showers that fell in many areas across the state. Reporters in all regions reiterated the need for a general soaking rain. Row crops were holding on with three-fourths of the corn and winter wheat acres rated in good-to-excellent condition. Crop development continues to advance well ahead of the normal pace. Pastures declined some from the previous week, but cattle were reported to be mostly good condition. Other farm activities this week included post-emergence herbicide and fertilizer applications, cutting hay, scouting for insects and diseases, harvesting strawberries, and continued assessment of freeze damage on fruit crops. Continue reading →

There have been a number of reports of Palmer amaranth up with newly emerged soybeans and cotton. There are various reasons for this development.  The number one reason is pre applied herbicides were not activated by rainfall and the pigweed emerged with the crop. Continue reading →

Soybean prices are mixed while corn, cotton, and wheat prices are down for the week. The June U.S. Dollar Index is trading midday at 79.58, up 0.82 for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average at midday was down 182 points for the week at 13,046. Crude Oil traded before the close at 98.29 a barrel, down 6.49 a barrel for the week. The April jobs report released today showed 115,000 jobs were created, well short of the expectation of 165,000. The unemployment rate fell to 8.1% from 8.2%, but only due to fewer people trying to find a job. Continue reading →

UT Cotton Scout School on Friday, May 25^th at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson.  Registration will begin at 8:00 AM (no fee or preregistration required).  The program will end with a box lunch and a go-to-the-field session for those interested after lunch.

Overall, I’m not getting any reports of widespread problems in any crop, but there has been a smattering of several things including … Continue reading →