Corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat were down for the week.

The big news for markets this week was the release of the USDA’s May World
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. The May Report
provided the first WASDE estimates for the new crop (2018/19 marketing
year). The planted acreage data was from the Prospective Plantings report
and the yield data was a weather adjusted trend yield, so it is likely that many changes will occur over the growing season as more information is revealed. However, the report does set a “baseline” for production, use, and stocks for the each crop. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.

Tennessee cotton producers in 2017 harvested  732,000 bales of cotton on 340,000 acres for an average yield of 1033 pounds per acre. Haywood County led the state with 59,600 acres harvested producing 123,300 bales of cotton. For a breakdown by county for 2017 cotton production, continue reading at Cotton17_TN.

USDA, NASS, Tennessee Field Office                                                        In Cooperation with:
Debra Kenerson, State Statistician PO Box 41505
Nashville, Tennessee 37204-1505                                          Tennessee Department of Agriculture
(615) 781-5300 or 1-800-626-0987                                                   Jai Templeton, Commissioner
Email: nass-tn@nass.usda.gov

Released: May 10, 2018

Tennessee 2018 Wheat Production Expected to Increase

Tennessee farmers expect to harvest 21.6 million bushels of winter wheat during 2018 according to the Tennessee Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The expected crop for 2018 would be up 12 percent from the previous year. Farmers seeded 400,000 acres last fall with 300,000 acres to be harvested for grain. Based on crop conditions as of May 1 and assuming a normal growing season, farmers expect a yield of 72.0 bushels per acre, up 2.0 bushels from 2017. Acres for other uses totaled 100,000 acres and will be used as cover crop or cut as silage or hay.  Continue reading →

WARMER TEMPERATURES WELCOMED BY FARMERS

Producers in Tennessee were finally able to get in their fields with 4.9 days suitable for field work. Tennessee had above normal temperatures and drier conditions than in previous weeks. This allowed for farmers to get in the fields to continue planting corn, soybeans and cotton, early cutting of hay, and other fieldwork activities. Topsoil moisture was 3 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 29 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 2 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_05_07_18.  The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-05-07-2018.

Corn, cotton, and wheat were up; soybeans were down for the week.

Since the USDA released the Prospective Plantings report on March 29th, commodity  prices and the price relationships between commodities have changed dramatically. For reference, the March 29th report estimated: corn acres planted at 88.026 million; soybean acres planted at 88.982 million; cotton acres planted at 13.469 million; and wheat acres planted at 47.339 million (spring wheat – 14.631 million acres). Since the report release, the harvest futures contract for each commodity (corn – December; soybeans – November; cotton – December; and wheat – July) has changed as follows: corn up 9 ½ cents ($4.11 ½ to $4.21); soybeans down 10 ½ cents ($10.47 ¾ to $10.37 ¼); cotton up 2.84 cents (77.73 to 80.57 cents); and wheat up 57 ¾ cents ($4.68 ½ to $5.26 ¼). Without considering other factors, such as planting weather and input costs, this change in relative prices would indicate potential increases for wheat (Northern Plains) and cotton Southern Plains and Southeast) at the expense of soybeans (or other crops, such as sorghum). Additionally, increased prices could pull more acreage into production, the Prospective Plantings report had principle crop acres planted decreasing 1.158 million acres (319.147 to 317.989 million acres), compared to 2017. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.

RAINS AND COOL TEMPERATURES HALT PRODUCTIVITY

Producers in Tennessee found themselves out of the fields due to only 1.9 days suitable for field work. Increased rainfall and unseasonably cool temperatures prevented farmers from continued planting, applying fungicide, and other fieldwork activities. Many are hopeful for warmer temperatures and dry conditions. Some flooding was reported. Topsoil moisture was 1 percent short, 44 percent adequate, and 55 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was 2 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 43 percent surplus. Hay and Roughage Supplies
were rated as 2 percent very short, 25 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_04_30_18. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-04-30-2018.

Corn, soybeans, and wheat were up; cotton was down for the week.

Delayed planting has pushed futures prices higher, however planting progress
will be monitored closely over the weekend and prices could retreat if the
weather allows for substantial progress in spring field work and planting. With
the size and speed of today’s equipment, acres can be tilled/sprayed/planted very quickly, so look for continued volatility for the next 2-3 weeks as weather dictates progress in fields across the Corn Belt and Mid-South. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.