Wisconsin’s first crop progress and condition report of the year from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service didn’t have much to say as Wisconsin is still under some snow cover or too wet to get into the fields.
Winter wheat condition was rated 57 percent good to excellent statewide, down from 83 percent good to excellent at the end of November.
Market advisor John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says key wheat states, such as Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma, were seeing ratings in the teens and twenties, pushing the wheat market up. But he says the wheat market is struggling on the demand side of the equation.
“Export inspections were below expectations again for wheat,” he says. “We just can’t seem to move this product.”
Heinberg adds part of the reason is that the Ukraine grain deal is moving product better than what the market anticipated. The agreement with Russia allows grain exports from Ukrainian ports through a safe corridor in the Black Sea. The United Nations and Turkey brokered the deal last July to combat a global food crisis. It was extended in November. It was extended again in March.
Wisconsin’s crop progress and condition report says heavy snow accumulation in the north and wet field conditions in the south have prevented most field work. Overwintered crops have yet to break dormancy in most areas. Farmers are hoping for drier conditions to start fieldwork.
Meanwhile, wheels are rolling in the southern part of the United States, such as Texas, where corn planting is at 2 percent — similar to last year, Heinberg says.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 55 percent adequate and 45 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 36 percent surplus.
Pasture condition was rated 43 good to excellent statewide.
Leave a Reply