Snapshot Tour of the Cornbelt

Below is the snapshot tour of the corn belt that Risë Labig from Ohio’s Country Journal and Ohio Ag Net, participates in.   Risë and I were grain buyers together.  This is a neat look into what's happening in the corn belt and helps to remind you to look past "your backyard".  This happens daily and there is a link below, where at 8:10 am CST you can listen to the audio report in its entirety.  

 

Good morning!

Today was our first day of the 2013 Snapshot Tour, hosted by Jay Calhoun of Colgon Commodities.  It is the 21^st year for the radio update on crop progress, weather, markets, etc across 7 of the cornbelt states.

Our first contributor is Mike Mock, from The Andersons Maumee office.  Their typical plant period for corn is April 20 – May 10^th.  Right now that looks to be on track.  They received very good moisture over the winter.  Wheat looks good this year, with very little abandonment expected. Because the wheat is slow to come out of dormancy this year – harvest could be pushed back a week or two, possibly affecting the amount of double crop bean acres.  The USDA said the inventories on old crop corn were large than expected…but Mike sees as big an impact on the amount of imported corn actually coming in to the lakes and east coast.  This is keeping basis in his area steady.

Paul from Hendersons, KY was unavailable this morning.  He is a great source for information on the river and gulf.

Risë reports from Greenville, OH.  Less than 25% of the wheat in this area has been top-dressed and is slow to come out of dormancy.  No field work in our immediate area other than getting on the fields for the wheat.  Travelling back from Columbus yesterday there was a lot of ground already worked on both the west side of St Rt 29 south of Mechanisburg, and nitrogen was being applied west of Urbana.  Moisture overall was excellent in the winter and we are in good shape.  Areas south of Columbus (Ross and Pickaway) have most wheat top-dressed, especially the gravely ground and report soil temps in the mid 30’s.

Pete Gill from the Camp Grove (Peoria area) ILL said they had a good winter with adequate snows and the soil did get recharged.  They like to have 50 degree days to plant corn and typically like to get corn in the ground  April 10^th – April 30^th.  They did get a lot of field work done in the fall, so once it gets fit it won’t take long to get it planted.

David Sheibel from the Bird Island, MN area (90 miles west of MSP) likes to report “statistics”.  They have a university reporting station 25 mi south of his location, and they reported that last October, normal soil moisture is 4-5”.  It was .02”.  Over the winter it typically get back to 6”.  It got to 1”.  David’s area did get a big snow two weeks ago which helped.  40% of that snow cover is left, and farther north they still have over 70% snow cover.  They typically plant by April 20-May 10^th.  It will push it to get started by that date in April this year…

Jarrod Creek reports from Denison, IA.  (SW).  He said his area is rather like the “red-headed stepchild” of receiving any moisture….they are starting out very dry…called it “bleak”.  They have not even received 2”  rain since the first of the year.  A lot of field work was done last fall, but no one has been in the fields anywhere yet.

Erin reports from Anselmo NE…about 1 hr 15 mineast of North Platte…about in the center of the state…The lack of moisture is depressing.  Many of the producers are very skeptical how they can get a crop in the ground, let alone get it up.  Stay tuned.

Wrapping it up each day, Steve Holz (Jaws) reports from Sheldon IA (very NW corner).  They have not replaced any moisture and are starting out very dry.  They still have frost in the ground..his guess it is still a 3 ft depth.  They need a warm rain.  No field work, but lots done last fall.  He said the Dakotas (where all the extra corn is going to be grown this year…per the USDA….) is on tap for more snow next Monday, so winter is not over for them yet.  He forecasts a late start and dry.

Summary – eastern corn belt is slowly seeing activity this week and has excellent moisture.  The eastern part of the western belt received respectable moisture but the western belt will bear watching.  It is cold and dry, with a late start expected.  Stay tuned…and expect volatility to continue!

Listen to this audio at:  http://colgancommodities.com/commentaries/snapshot-tour/.  It is free, but you may be required to sign in.

Feel free to email or text me pictures and comments on crop progress in your part of the state!