Corn, soybeans, and wheat were down; cotton was up for the week. Corn and wheat tumbled this week due to favorable weather conditions and in-creased projected global supplies. Weather forecasts for April-May provide no major concerns that would disrupt planting across most of the Corn Belt. The USDA estimated that over ¼ of the projected corn acres in Tennessee have been planted to date.

 
November soybean prices have moved mostly sideways ($9.40 to $9.65) since the beginning of April after steep ($10.20 to $9.50) declines in March. Weekly soybean export sales have tapered off as foreign buyers have turned to the record South American crop as for supply. Planting conditions will be closely monitored by soybean markets as most believe that good planting conditions early in the season translate into increased corn acreage, potentially to the detriment of soybean acreage. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.

The EPA as once again approved the Section 18 application allowing the use of Transform WG to control tarnished plant bugs in cotton. Specific restrictions are listed below and essentially identical to last year. Continue reading →

PLANTING CONTINUES AS DRIER WEATHER PREVAILS

Agricultural producers rapidly planted crops as breaks in weather and suitable field conditions permitted. Above average temperatures have allowed for quick development of crops. The State’s wheat crop looks good. Pastures, though weedy because of last year’s drought, have been growing and are in need of rain. There were 5.9 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus.  Continue reading the Tennessee NASS Crop Progress report  at TN_04_17_17. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-04-17-2017.

Corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat were up for the week. December corn prices increased for the week with higher-highs each trading day. Harvest corn futures are now above the March 31 levels that were the result of the Prospective Plantings report. It is very likely (baring a weather disturbance during planting) that harvest corn futures will continue to trade between $3.74 and $4.04 – the trading range since early October for the December 2017 contract.

 
November soybeans set a 6-month low on Tuesday before increasing 20 cents on Wednesday and Thursday to close at $9.61 ¾. In March soybeans received a lot of bearish news (record South American crop, increased domestic acreage, and greater soybean stocks than previously estimated); however export demand and domestic crush remain strong so, for now, further dramatic de-creases in prices seem unlikely. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.

Additional reports of stripe rust have been coming in across west Tennessee as many fields begin to bloom. Decisions to apply a fungicide to protect not only from stripe rust but also head scab need to be made. Continue reading →