Corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat were down for the week. As of March 24, December corn was trading 7 ¾ cents lower than last year; November soybeans were trading 54 ¼ cents higher; December cotton was trading $0.18 cents higher; and wheat was trading 31 ¼ cents lower. Similarly, in Tennessee, September and October/November cash forward contract prices are 5 cents lower and 63 cents higher for corn and soybeans, respectively.

 
Planting is quickly approaching and with substantially higher relative prices to corn it is likely that cotton and soybean acreage will see increased acreage nationally. Relative prices are only one of the factors (all though a very important one) that producers consider when determining which crops they will plant. Other important considerations include: relative changes in the cost of production, adherence to crop rotations, expected yields, anticipated weather, and planting conditions. Typically if planting conditions are good early in the planting interval corn acreage increases. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.