FIELD WORK AND CROP DEVELOPMENT SLOWED BY COOL,
WET WEATHER CONDITIONS

Row crops and small grains are still being harvested at a slow pace, and small grains continue to develop gradually. There were 2.6 days suitable for fieldwork last week, nearly a full day less than the previous week.
Topsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 1 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 42 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 1 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 39 percent surplus.  Continue reading at TN_11_13_18.  The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-11-13-2018.

In this week’s podcast, Scott Stewart and Heather Kelly discuss insecticide and fungicide seed treatment considerations for the upcoming crop season. Listen.

Corn, cotton, and wheat were down; and soybeans were mixed for the week.

This week the USDA released the November WASDE and Crop Production re-ports. Details of the WASDE report for corn, soybeans, cotton, and wheat are available at: Supply & Demand Estimates and Profitability Outlook.

The Crop Production report estimated 2018 National (Tennessee) corn, soybean, and cotton yields at: 178.9 bu/acre; down 1.8 bu/acre (173 bu/acre; down 1 bu/acre), 52.1 bu/acre; down 1 bu/acre (48 bu/acre down 2 bu/acre), and 836 lb/acre; down 51 lb/acre (1,048 lb/acre; up 14 lb/acre).

For the week, markets moved mostly sideways to down. The yield revisions for corn, soybeans, and cotton, were viewed as positive for prices, however the markets were anticipating yield decreases so the price response was muted. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.

Released: November 8, 2018

Record Tennessee Corn Yield Projected

Corn production in Tennessee is forecast at 119 million bushels, down 1 percent from the October forecast and down 2 percent from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at a record 173.0 bushels per acre, down 1.0 bushels from last month and up 2.0 bushels from the 2017 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 685,000 acres, down 25,000 acres from 2017. The U.S. corn production is forecast at 14.6 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the October forecast and up slightly from 2017. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 178.9 bushels per acre, down 1.8 bushels from last month and up 2.3 bushels from 2017. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 81.8 million acres, unchanged from the October forecast and down 1 percent from 2017. Continue reading at NovCrop18_TN.

RAINS PUT FIELD WORK ON HOLD

Mid-week rains once again put a halt to field activities, but not before some harvest of field crops occurred. Despite mostly good yields, soybean and cotton producers reported quality issues due to wet conditions. Winter wheat planting continued as the weather allowed. As cooler temperatures approach, livestock producers were reporting adequate hay supplies. There were 3.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 1 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 41 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 2 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 30 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN_11_05_18.  The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at CropProg-11-05-2018.

Corn, cotton, and soybeans were up; and wheat was mixed for the week.

On Thursday, positive comments from President Trump regarding trade negotiations with China sparked a 30 cent rally in soybean futures, ending a three week slide in soybean futures that saw January futures prices decline from $9.00 to below $8.50. While the market reacted positively, there is still a long way to go before a long term resolution with the Chinese is likely. Moving forward volatility is likely to remain in soybean markets as positive/negative trade news is released. Continue reading at Tennessee Market Highlights.