The late maturing corn and soybean crops, combined with bad weather conditions, mean that the harvest in the United States continues to be difficult. In the Midwest, significantly less has been harvested than usual. An extremely exciting situation for arable farmers.
Millions of hectares remained fallow this spring because it was too late to sow grain corn in June. Other growers opted for soybeans instead of corn. However, it is now also late for that crop. While normally more than 33% of the American corn harvest is now in the silos, this is currently barely 20%. Not even all plots are ready for harvest and the quality is slowly declining.
Harvest is far behind
The difference with soybeans is even greater. Normally 50% of the harvest is harvested there by mid-October. Now it is 25%. Of all bean crops, 85% are now ripening, compared to almost 95% normally. In the latest WASDE report, published on October 10, the US Department of Agriculture estimates soy yields to be lower than expected. The figures in maize rose slightly.
In the gigantic MidWest, an area that covers 12 states, weather conditions are variable. In the southeastern region (Ohio, Illinois and Indiana) the weather is favorable for the harvest, but in the north and in southern Dakota up to 60 centimeters of snow fell locally (followed by rain). Warmer weather melts the snow, leaving plots very wet. The weather forecast looks slightly better for these states over the next 2 weeks. Further south, rain can throw a spanner in the works.
Consequences of snowfall
As a result of the snow, the grain lies flat on the ground. A lot of spring wheat still needs to be harvested in the Dakotas. This also applies to Canada. In addition to yield and quality losses, it is a challenge to scoop the wet grain from the ground with the combine harvester.
Snow is no longer on the agenda for now, although the temperature is dropping. In the east of the Corn Belt the thermometer can drop below zero. This is not a problem for the harvest, but it is for the ripening of the late crops.
Prices decline
Supported by the weather and the WASDE report, the American and French stock markets rose first. However, on Monday October 15, the prices of wheat, corn and soy closed lower. This is mainly due to improved weather conditions for the harvest. A slightly positive tone can also be heard from the political quarter, because the United States and China are involved in new negotiations.