Category Archives: Farm Management

05 Oct 2016

Wrapping up harvest aid applications in 2016

05 Oct 2016
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We have been blessed with another great harvest season and it appears we may be able to finish harvest with little rain.  Here on the 5th day of Oct, I would guess the average cotton acre within the state has already received the first application of harvest aids and is very close to seeing a picker.  Even so, several acres have not been defoliated.  This has led many to call with concerns about the cooler temperatures in the forecast over the weekend and several have asked if it is simply time to defoliate based on calendar date.   Continue reading →

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30 Sep 2016

UT Commodity Market Update 9/30/2016

30 Sep 2016
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Corn: December corn futures have increased since the beginning of the week. This is a continuation of the upward trend we have seen in corn futures since the beginning of September. This is due in part to the realization that the USDA’s yield forecasts were a bit overzealous. That being said, we still do not know the total size of the U.S. corn crop just yet. We are still a ways off from knowing that. The USDA did indicate that the ending stocks as of 9/1/2016 were smaller than expected. Continue reading →

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09 Sep 2016

UT Commodity Market Update 9/9/2016

09 Sep 2016
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Corn: Since the market’s open on Monday, December corn futures have increased by $0.18. Corn prices have rallied on the expectation that the USDA will be forced to cut back their national yield projections. USDA is scheduled to release their monthly report and the trade is anticipating that report will include news of a lower corn production forecast. USDA currently has the corn harvest at 15.15 billion bushels. However, Reuters took a survey of analysts that indicated that the average trade estimate for the corn crop is 15.027 billion bushels. Corn harvest is underway in Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of Illinois. Continue reading →

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07 Sep 2016

2016 Mid-South Cotton Defoliation Guide

07 Sep 2016
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defolguideTennessee’s 2016 cotton crop is rapidly maturing and many of our acres will receive the first shot of defoliant in the next week.  There are many factors to consider in determining timing, products and rates.   In an effort to outline these decisions and provide harvest aid recommendations for the Mid-South, the 2016 Mid-South Cotton Defoliation Guide has just been updated and is now available online.   To access the guide, click the image above or the included link.  Please keep in mind that this was compiled as a regional guide and should be used in conjunction with your previous experiences. Continue reading →

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02 Sep 2016

UT Commodity Market Update 9/2/2016

02 Sep 2016
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Corn: Corn futures have traded $0.02 lower since the market’s open on Monday morning. Informa has just released their private estimate of what the national corn crop yield will be. Their estimated national yield for corn is 174.8 bushels per acres. That is in line with the USDA August 12th estimate of a national yield of 175.1 bushels per acre. The USDA continues to rate the corn crop in a very favorable light with 75% being rated as good-to-excellent. They also reported that 92% of the crop at the dough stage with 60% having already reached dent. Informa’s estimate is likely the closest to USDA’s estimate that has been released by a private company. The market did not appear to react surprised by the figures, which could mean that the trade is beginning to anticipate a very large crop. Locally, corn basis has begun to improve slightly at some local elevators. Continue reading →

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31 Aug 2016

Cotton turning . . . too soon?

31 Aug 2016
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IMG_4307The call of the week (beyond target spot) has concerned cotton ‘turning’.  In the dictionary of cotton rhetoric, ‘turning’ refers to the shift in canopy color from dark green to shades of yellow and red, or senescence, which usually coincides with the second or third week of football season.  Over the past week, the crop has definitely made a turn towards finishing out the season .  . .  and kickoff for the first game is still a few days away. The general concern is this change has occurred much more rapidly and earlier than we would like.  So are we looking at premature senescence and yield penalties? Continue reading →

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26 Aug 2016

UT Commodity Market Update 8/26/2016

26 Aug 2016
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Corn: Corn futures have traded $0.29 lower since the market’s open on Monday morning. Farm Journal has just released the results of the Pro Farmer 2016 Crop Tour. Their estimated national yield for corn is 170.2 bushels per acres. That is less than the USDA August 12th estimate of a national yield of 175.1 bushels per acre. Illinois was projected to have an average yield of 194 bushels per acre for the corn crop planted there. Currently, the USDA estimates the average yield for Illinois to be 200 bushels per acre. Continue reading →

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