What started out as nearly perfect planting conditions in early April turned cold and wet in late April. As a result, early planted corn was slow to emerge and laid in the gound unemerged for as much as four weeks ... too long. Some corn varieties were able to withstand the stress and emerge with a satisfactory plant population to support acceptable yield potential, but many varieties did not emerge causing farmers to replant. Seed companies scurried to find additional seed supplies for the replanting, often time with less desireable varieties available than were originally planted.
When conditions improved in early May, corn planting resumed and farmers began turning to soybean planting. In a weeks time, temperatures went from 37° at night to 93° during the day and what corn and soybeans were planted emerged very quickly ... just in time for night time temperatures to return to the low 30°'s May 16 & 17. Needless to say, the variable weather conditions are stressing crops and causing uncertainty for 2011 yield potential.
Grain markets continue to be very volatile and will remain so until good growing conditions stabilize. Opportunities exist for pricing the 2011 crops at very good prices, but many farmers are reluctant to make sales when there is potential for prices to go much higher with adverse growing conditions.
