July 20, 2011

Dryness trims US corn and soy prospects

Extreme heat and dryness this week as the crop is reproducing will trim US corn prospects, and even more stress from dry weather will continue through next week, an agricultural meteorologist forecasted on Tuesday (Jul 19).

"I would think the condition decline will be even more extreme this week. There is going to be a lot of stress on crops the next three days and I don't see much rainfall through next week," said Don Keeney, meteorologist for MDA EartSat Weather.

The USDA on Monday (Jul 20) said that 66% of the US corn crop was in good to excellent condition, down from 69% a week ago, 72% a year ago, and lower than analysts and traders had expected.

Soy conditions also declined more than expected. And the spring wheat crop in the northern US Plains is forming heads, leaving it vulnerable to heat.

The US corn crop was planted late this year because of excessive rainfall and flooding, pushing the reproductive or pollination stage of development into mid to late July rather than late June or early July.

The USDA on Monday said 35% of the crop was silking or pollinating so roughly half of the US crop, estimated at over 90 million acres, the second largest area since 1944, will be pollinating this week.

Telvent DTN weather said well above normal daytime and nighttime temperatures will put extreme stress on corn during the next three to five days, especially on reproductive corn and corn that is shallow rooted due to heavy spring rains.