With cotton planting just around the corner, some folks are interested in tankmixing a residual herbicide in with their burndown. The typical herbicides used for this purpose would be Sharpen (42 day plant back to cotton), Valor (30 days plant back to cotton) and Leadoff (30 days plant back to cotton) but these are no longer options as the plant back interval is too long. Continue reading
As reported by NASS on April 13, 2015
CORN PRODUCER’S PATIENCE TRIED
For the second week, producers have been severely restricted from planting corn due to wet weather. Presently, planting is running almost 80 percent behind the 5-year average. Wheat and cattle remain in good condition. Burn down occurred whenever possible. The percent of apples in bloom is in line with the 5-year average. There were 2.6 days suitable for field work. Continue reading at Crop Progress 4 13 15.
While profit margins are expected to be tight this year, money spent on getting the crop planted timely and efficiently is money well spent. The wet weather and saturated soils have delayed normal spring planting preparations such as field work and or burn down applications for many parts of the Southeast. This could start to compress the crop planting into a smaller window than we would like. Continue reading at Southeast Farm Press.
Cotton was up; corn, soybeans, and wheat were down for the week. Currently, two major obstacles exists that will prevent sustained price rallies for grains, oilseeds, and cotton. First, global and domestic stocks of corn, soybeans, cotton, and wheat are at or near record levels. Second, the strength of the US dollar will continue to reduce the competitiveness of US agricultural products in the global market place, thus reducing the potential for US exports. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.
Projected corn ending stocks are raised 50 million bushels with a reduction in expected feed and residual use reflecting December-February disappearance as indicated by March 1 stocks. The projected range for the corn season-average farm price is narrowed 5 cents on each end to $3.55 to $3.85 per bushel. Continue reading at Dr. Aaron Smith’s comments on April 10th USDA report.
The profitability outlook has been updated after the release of the April 9, 2015 USDA WASDE reports. Today’s market reaction while negative, did not change much in the profitability outlook. I would like to point out the cotton price of 70 cents that is being used in the profitability outlook. I would guess that there has been very little cotton priced for 2015. The price of 70 cents is made up of a cash price of 62 – 63 cents and gin rebates (seed & hauling) of 7-8 cents. Continue reading at Profitability Outlook April 9 2015.
It is raining as I write and the forecast is not optimistic about getting much done in the field this week. As soon as it dries corn planting will take priority along with some early soybean planting. There is no major problem with planting corn right around a burndown application which makes it much easier than in soybean where many of the burndown herbicides have plant back restrictions. Continue reading
As reported by NASS on April 6, 2015
WHEAT IN GOOD CONDITION; PRODUCERS ANXIOUS TO PLANT CORN
Wet weather has benefitted wheat, which is developing well ahead of last year’s crop. Fifty-eight percent of the winter wheat crop showed no freeze damage and 33 had light damage. A limited number of corn acres have been planted because of wet fields. Continue reading at Crop Progress 4 5 15.