Grain originator Nick Thone is confident in the crop coming off the ground in southern Wisconsin, but transporting that grain could be a problem.
A majority of soybeans in his region — Jefferson, Ixonia and Waupun — are shipped via barge for the export market. With low water levels in key waterways, such as the Mississippi River, barges can’t be filled as full — sometimes even half of the normal loads. As a result, the cost of barge freight rises, slimming margins for terminals. This in turn hurts Wisconsin producers’ basis price, Thone explains.
Meanwhile, this year’s corn crop is looking similar to last year — desirable test weights and moisture. The same goes for soybeans. Thone says the elevator likes to see corn at 56 lbs test weight and moisture close to 15 percent. For soybeans: 60-lbs test weight and 13 percent moisture. He says the crop is just slightly wetter than what’s optimal.
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