DeLoss Jahnke

1 week ago | farmweeknow.com | DeLoss Jahnke

Deadlines are fast approaching. The last NASS Crop Progress report shad corn planting at 87% complete, ahead of the 5-year average of 85%. But looking deeper into the numbers, some questions quickly come to mind. Illinois, at 82% planted, means there’s about two million acres still open. And Ohio finally pushed through the 50% mark. As USDA’s Prevented Planting Program deadlines approach, will farmers have difficult decisions to make?

2 weeks ago | farmweeknow.com | DeLoss Jahnke

The end of April and the first half of May are typically tough on futures markets, unless there’s a weather scare that has a big impact on planting progress. But now we’re in the second half of May, and grain and soybeans have had green screens each of the first three days of this week. “You go back to the charts five, 10 [or] 15 years, it seems like corn wants to find a little buying interest.

3 weeks ago | farmweeknow.com | DeLoss Jahnke

Early May usually isn’t the best time of year for corn prices, especially in years that have good planting progress. While parts of Illinois have been kept out of the fields, other areas have run well ahead of schedule. As of Sunday, 62% of the nation’s crop had been planted, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Most western states were running ahead of schedule. On first glance, a good planting number gives traders an impression that a big crop will get planted.

1 month ago | farmweeknow.com | DeLoss Jahnke

Late April to early May isn’t normally the time to expect a boost in commodity prices, especially when USDA reports planting is at a normal pace. Even so, soybeans have been retreating, and this week’s declines have been pretty even for both old-crop and new-crop contracts. Old crop has shown a little more stability in April compared to new crop. July started the month with a 21 cent gain to $10.49-1/4. By April 7, it had lost more than 50 cents of its value.

1 month ago | farmweeknow.com | DeLoss Jahnke

Markets had no reaction to latest headlines. Outside markets moved higher Wednesday after a report that the White House may be open to making major changes to the baseline Chinese tariff rates. Instead of 145%, one senior White House official suggested a rate closer to 50-60%. At one point Wednesday, the Dow was up more than one thousand points before it retreated to a 419-point increase. Meanwhile, corn and soybean market reactions were minimal, at best.