A critical weather time for crops and markets

Farm and Ranch July 15, 2011 USDA issued its latest estimates for crop production this week and now the weather will be the key factor in determining if the yield estimates become reality. As Brian Basting of Advanced Trading points out, the U.S. spring wheat and corn crops are running behind in development.

Basting: “And everything now will depend on the weather the next six weeks. You can maybe stretch that all the way into the first half of September as you get into some concerns about corn anyway, any concerns about cold weather and early frost. But there is no question that the next six weeks are crucial starting with the spring wheat crop here and then moving forward into pollination and then pod set for beans. I think right now the crop, given all it has been through, is in relatively good shape in many cases but it is critical we get a good finish to the season. The weather each day will be the critical factor affecting wheat and corn especially.”

Basting says there is concern about shallow root development for corn because of the abundant moisture it has had.

Basting: “It really does put the emphasis on pollination because the crop may be susceptible to stress than it would be if it had a better root system and drier soil, but we will move forward from here.”

And what happens with corn can influence wheat prices.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.

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