It seems inevitable that cotton acres will drop in 2015, perhaps to a record low. I believe the number one factor causing increased plant bug pressure is reduced cotton acres, concentrating similar numbers of plant bugs in fewer acres. Thus, I suspect tarnished plant bugs will continue to be a major factor in cotton. Plant bugs are an important but manageable problem. Below are a few bullet points to think about in advance of planting. Continue reading
The comments below were posted sometime ago, but with corn planting time upon us, I’ve updated some take home points. Continue reading
Corn and cotton were up; soybeans and wheat were down for the week. This week corn futures prices strengthened relative to soybeans. Currently, the nearby soybean to corn futures price ratio is 2.47; compared to a harvest price ratio of 2.33. The harvest price ratio has the potential to further decrease if, on March 31st, the USDA planted acreage estimates contain more than expected planted acres of soybeans and less than expected planted acres of corn. Of course the potential exists for the USDA to provide a surprise on Tuesday. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.
I have had a number of calls about grain sorghum this week as lower production costs compared to corn and the latest increased premium offered for Memphis delivery have driven up interest in this crop. Check out our newest regional sorghum production guide at utcrops.com. Some pre-plant reminders are included about sorghum for those who have not grown sorghum lately (or ever): Continue reading
A wet and mostly cold March has us well behind the pace for burndown. As soon as the weather permits corn planting will take priority followed by burndown for grain sorghum and early planted soybean. Continue reading
There continues to be quite a few folks wanting to know how fomesafen applied last year could affect grain sorghum planted this spring. The concern is understandable as grain sorghum is very prone to injury from fomesafen carryover. Continue reading
Corn, cotton, and wheat were up; soybeans were mixed for the week. De-cember 2015 corn futures set a new 150 day low on Wednesday before re-bounding on Thursday and Friday to close up for the week. November soy-bean futures establish new 150 day lows this week at $9.39 per bushel. Soy-bean futures remain somewhat of a quagmire. Strong export and domestic demand provide bullish news, while large domestic and global ending stocks for the 2014/15 marketing year and the potential for increased planted acreage in 2015 fuel the bears. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.