On June 6, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced an estimated 300 million in cost-share assistance payments to cotton producers through the new Cotton Ginning Cost Share program (CGCS) program. Through the CGCS program, eligible producers can receive a one-time cost share payment, which is based on a producer’s 2015 cotton acres reported to FSA, multiplied by 40 percent of the average ginning cost for each production region. Continue reading →

WHEAT HARVEST BEGINS

Wheat harvest has begun with reports of good yields and quality. Hay cutting was in full swing in dry areas of the State. Wet conditions in other areas continue to hamper soybean planting but are beneficial to crops which had started to show signs of stress. Cooler weather and wet conditions hindered cotton development. Crops were in mostly good condition. There were 4.1 days suitable for field work. Continue reading the Tennessee Crop Progress at TN_06_06_2016. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-06-06-2016.

Cool, wet weather over much of the State last week proved a stumbling block to numerous Tennessee producers. The rains kept many out of the field, delaying cotton and soybean planting, while cool weather slowed crop development. Conversely, other parts of the State dealt with dry conditions which caused corn twisting, slowed wheat bean emergence, and affected hay quality. There were 4.4 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 7 percent very short, 13 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. The Tennessee Crop Progress report can be read at TN_05_31_16. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-05-31-2016. Please note that the Tennessee cotton squaring number is incorrect and pending revision should be 1%.

Corn, soybeans, cotton, and wheat were up for the week. Prices continued to move upward this week with corn leading the way. In Tennessee, harvest cash forward contracts, at the end of the week averaged $4.00 and $10.42, for corn and soybeans, respectively. These prices are substantially higher than many predictions by analysts this winter. So what has precipitated this reversal in price direction and price expectation? Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.

COOLER TEMPERATURES CAUSE CONCERNS

While a cold front brought some much-needed rain to parts of Tennessee, the cooler temperatures associated with it caused concern for their emerging crops among row crop farmers. Cotton especially needed warmer temperatures. Livestock producers were busy with hay harvest until the rain. Cattle and pastures were still in good shape. There were 4.7 days suitable for field work. Continue reading at TN_05_23_16.

The USDA Crop Progress report released May 23, 2016 can be read at CropProg-05-23-2016.