IP Crop Network, April Report

This monthly feature from SSGA’s Agronomy Action Team highlights growing conditions for Identity Preserved crops from different regions around the country. Thanks to the states/regions that contributed this month. If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with David Kee or Shane Frederick. You can also follow David Kee on Twitter for some of the latest, most-interesting information on agronomy and research that affect IP and other farmers.

Illinois

It’s been a pretty slow start to spring across most of Illinois. We have had a couple of one- or two-day windows of field activity with some anhydrous being applied and a few guys setting planters in the field. This time one year ago we had quite a bit in the ground, and with the 10-day forecast calling for significant rain, it looks like it will be after Easter before things really get moving.

The wheat crop, working south to north, has started growing and overall looks pretty good. There are some thinner stands on late seedings, but with most of the spring fertilizer applications made and even most herbicide applications made, the crop is off to a good spring start. Likely, it will not be the overall great crop we had in 2021, but it can still be a very good crop.

Corn acres are still holding for now, but if we get delayed through April, there will likely be a switch to beans, especially on the marginal acres.

Chemical supplies remain tight with glyphosate starting to loosen up some, but most other products remain scarce and expensive.

Michigan

The 2022 growing season has started with some green up of the winter wheat crop. Cool temperatures, along with consistent rainfall, has not allowed for field work in most places. At this date, this is not a significant issue for Michigan soybeans, but the sugar beet and wheat growers would like to be getting a stronger start to field operations.

The USDA planting intentions report has indicated that Michigan growers plan to plant about 9% more soybeans in 2022 than in 2021. Expected corn acres are about the same as the previous year. So additional soybean acres will come from winter wheat that was not able to be planted last fall and some minor crops.

Contracts for specialty soybeans, including non-GMO and food grade soybeans, are reduced compared to a year ago. Some reasons that I have heard for this change are planning for weed control challenges such as herbicide resistant weeds and potential profit of commodity soybeans. It is likely that attractive contracts for dry edible beans have also taken some acres away from specialty soybeans.

Optimism for the 2022 season remains high as commodity markets continue to offer profit opportunities.

Minnesota

Minnesota conditions are variable; 52% of the state is rated abnormally dry (D0) to moderate drought (D1). Drought appears more severe in eastern Minnesota compared to the west side of the state. The dry conditions are allowing some growers time to finish manure applications and complete tillage operations. In the wetter areas of western Minnesota, tillage and other field preparation activities are limited.

Winter’s grip is slowly fading; Lakes and rivers are flowing, tree and shrub buds are starting to swell. Soil temperatures (4-inch depth) are increasing, slowly, with highs ranging in the mid-30s to the mid-40s at Lamberton and Waseca. In the next week, rain and snow is in the forecast for much of the state. Farmers are still cautiously optimistic for an early planting season; however, few have started planting.

Missouri

We have been experiencing roller coaster weather with several days of wet conditions and few good days, with not much field work being done at this time. Work within the winter wheat crop is taking place, but it is dependent upon the wet conditions with fertilizer being the major focus right now and some weed control for winter annuals. Wheat progress and condition varies greatly around the state with only 1% of the wheat is headed, per USDA’s April 4 update. On the same USDA report, 50% of the Missouri winter wheat acres falling in the “good” category.

Missouri farmers planted a significant acreage in cover crops, approximately 1.1 million acres, the vast majority of that is cereal rye and planned for soybean planting. Work continues to promote cover crop usage after soybean to protect the residue ahead of corn planting.

North Dakota

According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending April 3, there were 1.5 days suitable for fieldwork so far in North Dakota. Reports indicated that, on average, producers intend to begin fieldwork on April 14. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 23% very short, 23% short, 51% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 26% very short, 32% short, 40% adequate and 2% surplus.

The soybean acreage estimate for North Dakota is down 3%. Corn acreage is down about 12% in North Dakota declined 12%. Rising input costs likely contributed to the bigger than expected decline in corn planting intentions. North Dakota remains the largest spring wheat producing state with the planted area forecast at 5.2 million acres. That’s down 5% from 2021.

More than 72% of North Dakota is classified as being in moderate to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. That’s a 6% increase in the past week. Extreme drought conditions persist in the northwestern part of the state with the entire western half of North Dakota experiencing at least some form of moderate to severe drought. The drought conditions extend into western and central South Dakota.

The USDA released their much-anticipated Prospective Plantings report on March 31. U.S. soybean acres are up 4% to a total of 91.0 million acres; in contrast, U.S. corn acres are down 4% to a total of 89.5 million acres. Most major soybean growing states predict modest % increases from 2021.

In North Dakota, total principal crop area planted dropped 2% to 23.7 million acres from 24.1 million acres in 2021. Soybean acres are down 3% from 2021 to a total of 7.0 million acres (2021 had 7.25 million acres); this would place North Dakota fourth in total soybean acres (the same as 2021). Canola acres would be a record high for North Dakota