Latest News From Corn

Brazil briefly wore the global corn export crown in 2012 because of the U.S. drought. With the ability to churn out three corn crops per year and a supply deal with China, Brazil might be set to maintain that title.

Conditions are right for the disease to break loose in parts of the Midwest. If it does, agronomists recommend three steps farmers can take to prioritize affected cornfields for harvest to minimize yield loss.

A fast-moving storm flattened crops on June 29, but the rain gave much needed relief to area crops and hope to farmers struggling to stay optimistic. Pro Farmer Crop Tour provides insights on how those crops look now.

First thing Tuesday, Pro Farmer Tour scouts saw Nebraska irrigated corn with 208 to 250 bu. yields. But a lot could change as they head into dryland corn. In the eastern Corn Belt, scouts are evaluating Indiana crops.

A heat dome will consume the Plains and Mississippi Valley into the South this week with "oppressive and dangerous conditions" expected at least through midweek, the National Weather Service reported early Monday.

Out of the gate this morning, scouts saw a high of 208 bu/A for corn and a low of 92 bu/A. In the West, the initial report is positive for South Dakota with "better than last year" the key phrase scouts are repeating.

As scouts set out on the the 2023 Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Iowa will be closely watched as it's the only state where Crop Tour covers all the state's counties. Brian Grete says Iowa has a lot of question marks this year.

Corn growers in 13 states have confirmed tar spot outbreaks now. Iowa leads the pack with the disease reported in at least 36 counties. Indiana is a close second. "It’s starting to explode," one agronomist says.

Some of the research now underway at the facility is focused on improving germplasm performance, launching stacked, next-generation differentiated traits and demonstrating  regenerative agriculture cropping systems.

USDA’s first farmer survey-based yield estimate offered few surprises, but analysts warn the estimates might already be out of date due to rain that fell after Aug. 1. USDA also made more cuts to demand.

What’s often called the “white combine” is hammering western Kansas this year, an ugly reality for an area that’s finally receiving rain after nearly five years of drought.

Drought is creating a dreary outlook for Missouri farmers, but it wasn’t until mid-July that some realized just how bad it was. Farmers in pockets of severe drought now say they have widespread pollination problems.

A boy’s intentional burial beneath Illinois farm dirt is a bizarre, standalone tale in the annals of grim agriculture incidents.

Using the same amount of fertilizer -- but at different times and more than one way during the season -- can help you harvest more bushels and improve your bottom line. Check out our two brief videos to learn more.

Farmers can use humidity charts for their area to assess when the disease could hit their corn crop as well as the optimum time to make a fungicide application, says Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Associate Field Agronomist.

From growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia to forecasts for hot and dry weather across the Midwest, grain prices have been on a volatile run. Analysts think the volatility could heat up again next week.

There is now a dollar value assigned to grain carbon intensity scores below 29 in the form of tax credits to biofuel plants that buy grain as part of their decarbonization efforts.

Despite rains the last couple of weeks in parts of the Corn Belt the latest drought monitor shows drought continues to grip a huge part of the Midwest, including Nebraska>

Arlan Suderman, StoneX Group, and DuWayne Bosse, Bolt Marketing, debate USDA’s WASDE numbers.

Getting into the field now can help you make more informed decisions. What if you need to spray for insects or call your insurance agent? Being proactive will pay you back many times over.

John Smith is growing 137 acres of wide-row cluster corn planted directly over his water source. Essentially, he is taking his corn to the well.

The next opportunity for USDA to adjust its corn yield forecast is next week during the July WASDE report. Currently, USDA has penciled in a 181.5 bu. per acre national yield, but analysts think it may be too optimistic.

“This is the earliest we’ve reported tar spot in Iowa,” says Robertson, Iowa State professor of plant pathology. She says the early detection could be due to the Tarspotter app. Here's how it works.

The National Drought Mitigation Center estimates 67% of corn and 60% of soybeans are still considered to be in drought, a slight improvement from last week when drought covered 70% of corn and 63% of soybeans.

The USDA reports provided a bullish surprise for soybeans with acreage down 4 million from the March intentions. Corn acreage was bearish coming in more than 2 million higher than March. Where did the shifts occur?

Flattened corn can often recover, stand and produce decent yields. Soybeans can shake off a storm and flourish, but beware spider mites in the next 10 days if temperatures stay 85-plus degrees with low humidity.

Hurricane-force winds swept from northern Missouri and Iowa all the way east to Illinois and Indiana. The derecho brought wind gusts up to 100 mph, flattening cornfields, but it also drenched soils with crucial rains.

Can skip row corn add bushels to the bin? James Hitchcock wants the answers from one trusted source—his own fields.

Farmers with cornfields affected two years ago need to be ready this season, based on a corn-soybean rotation. Fields with high levels of residue are more susceptible, and beware heavy rains just prior to canopy.

Despite weekend rains sweeping the northern Corn Belt, corn and soybean conditions sit at the second-lowest level in history. Sizable declines hit key areas of the Corn Belt as corn enters a critical time for production.

Corn prices fell more than 30 cents on Friday, a change from the rapid run-up in prices the past two weeks, but even with chances of rain across the northern Corn Belt, drought continues to eat away at crop conditions.

Corn prices sunk as forecasts turned more optimistic for the weekend rains in the northern Corn Belt. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the rains aren't enough to change the potential production problems in Illinois.

Farmers in Iowa are trying to stay optimistic but say the next two weeks are critical for getting some rain or they'll be seeing significant yield loss.

Illinois crop ratings have dropped like a rock with only 33% of soybeans and 36% of corn rated good to excellent in this week's USDA crop progress report.

An intrepid Kansas mother and her Johnny-on-the-spot son found one of the most stunning Indian artifacts of recent history. Welcome to the impossible tale of the Oehm Blade.

Many Midwest farmers are seeing their corn crop struggle from compaction, nutrient deficiencies and herbicide carryover. Some of these issues can be addressed yet this season.

November soybeans shot up $1 in just two days. The December corn contract skyrocketed 50 cents during the time. Drought and dryness concerns are fueling the grain markets, is it only weather impacting prices?

Corn yields can swing 100 bu. to the positive or negative in some hybrids today based on nitrogen use that supports kernel depth. Tune into hybrid characteristics, and avoid “gapping” nitrogen and volatilization.

Weather conditions at planting, herbicide damage, insects and poor closure of the furrow are just a handful of the factors that can hinder corn emergence success.

The new technology is designed to improve seedling vigor, boost root biomass and contribute to yield increases – up to 15% in corn and 12% in soybeans. It will be commercially available starting in 2024.

Dry conditions in some parts of the Midwest are putting a strain on yield potential early this season. But some stands are thriving. Practices such as continuous covers and no-till are making the difference.

Several factors converge making corn rootworm, black cutworm and true armyworm a high concern this season.

Last week, 34% of the U.S. corn crop was covered in drought, and this week it jumped to 45%. The second crop conditions ratings of the season from USDA-NASS confirmed dryness is starting to deteriorate crop conditions.

A concentration of smoke over a period of several weeks could contribute to lower temperatures and fewer growing degree units for row crops because of reduced solar radiation.

With more than 90% of the corn crop now planted and growing in 12 key states, it's time to look for evidence of Pythium, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia. They're often overlooked because they work underground to steal yield.

Ken Ferrie is seeing potassium deficiency in corn this season because of dry soil conditions. It's easy to confuse with a nitrogen deficiency and even the carbon penalty and ugly corn syndrome.

It was blood bath in the grain markets with soybeans hitting multi-year lows to start the week, but growing drought concerns then sent markets higher. Dan Basse and Ben Brown explain what the trade is now watching.

Much of the eastern Corn Belt is currently experiencing drought. Dry conditions have been parked in the western region even longer. Low subsoil moisture is a concern, and short-term dryness is compounding the issue.

If you’re aiming for a 200-bu. corn crop this season, be aware it will need at least 34 pounds of sulfur per acre.

Farmers finding dead corn plants in their fields are texting pictures to Ken Ferrie, asking for help. Some of the culprits he's found include wireworm, the carbon penalty, rootless corn syndrome and herbicide carryover.