Y101.3 FM Sioux City

An agronomist in northern Iowa says corn and soybean planting has surpassed the halfway point. Jed Norman is with LG Seeds. “I would say the majority of my area would be probably in that 60 to 75 percent done for corn, and I’d probably say closer to 50 percent on beans. Depending on who you are or where you’re at.” He tells Brownfield crops are slowly emerging. “I think April 11th, April 12th was kind of when I saw a lot of guys going. ...     

There’s another light round of direct cattle business following the light round of business that took place on Wednesday.  Live deals in the South are at $182, fully steady to $1 higher than yesterday and the prior week’s weighted averages.  Bids are at $290 dressed.  Asking prices are at $184-plus live and $295 dressed in the North.  Look for more business to develop over the balance of the week. Boxed beef is mixed at midday on solid and light demand for moderate offerings.  Choice is $1.68 higher at $297.42 and Select is $.42 lower at $290.  The Choice/Select spread is $7.42. ...     

A southern Illinois farmer says their planting season is well underway. Ralph Voss, who farms in Clinton County, outside of Carlyle, tells Brownfield… “We’re about half done with corn and ain’t put a bean in the ground yet,” he says. He says field conditions have been ideal. “They’re a garden!”  He says, “The ground is working really pretty nice. I swear some of the best you’ve ever seen it crumble.” Voss says rains have kept him out of the field this week, but he’s not worried. ...     

A market analyst says the corn futures markets is looking for a reason to push above $4.50. Naomi Blohm, senior market advisor at Total Farm Marketing, tells Brownfield… “If it doesn’t, it doesn’t mean we’re going to crash and burn, but it could mean we see a simple 10 cent pullback and prices then continue to trade in a sideways pattern,” she says, “until we get a little bit more news out of the safrinha crop in Brazil, till we get a better idea of our planting pace here, and how summer weather patterns are starting to look.” Blohm says outside influences, like the Federal Reserve’s June 12th meeting, could also spur the markets. ...