Northwest Iowa Crop Conditions

Crop Conditions

Northwest of Storm Lake

Counties of: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux

Past Weeks Rainfall: 0 to .1 inches
Soil Moisture: Dry on top 3 inches good moisture below that
Temperature: Normal, 4 inch soil temps are around 60
Crop Progress: Corn planting started late last week

Corn

Crop Stage: 20% planted
Yield Potential: Average

Soybean

Crop Stage: None Planted
Yield Potential: Average

Corn Market

Current Prices: $3.48/bu
Fall Prices: $3.46/bu
Past Weeks Trend: Higher

Soybean Market

Current Prices: $8.93/bu
Fall Prices: $9.07/bu
Past Weeks Trend: Higher

Comments:

Chad Husman AFM

Corn planting is underway, 20% or more of NW Iowa corn was planted in the past 2 or 3 days. This is the most
corn we’ve had planted before April 20th in some time. Most farmers started planting corn over the weekend, but
some held off because they thought it was too early. If the rain holds off many farmers will finish planting corn this
week which is very early. The amount of acres that can be planted in a day is remarkable. Soybean planting
normally starts sometime in May, but this could be the year some will push that earlier.
Soil conditions for planting are very good. The 4 inch soil temperature is running about 60F and trending higher.
The general rule of thumb we look for is minimum temp of 50 and rising to plant corn. The top 2 to 3 inches are
fairly dry which is great for seed placement, and we still have plenty of moisture to get the corn started. Soil in this
area can hold about 10 inches of plant-available water in the top 5 feet, and that soil profile remains full or nearly
full today. That could be an important factor later this season.
Grain markets have rallied impressively over the past two weeks, let by soybeans. The extent of this increase in
prices is a little surprising, because there is no major fundamental reason for it. Soybeans let the way due to good
demand and favorable US verses Brazilian currency valuations, but speculators moving fund money from short to
long positions acts to extend the rally.

Crop Update Achives

Please click on the links on the right to view the past pdf’s of our Northwest Crop Conditions reports.

Market Conditions

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