Latest news with #corncrop
Bloomberg
06-08-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Record US Corn Crop Drives Profits for Top Fertilizer Maker
Nutrien Ltd., the world's largest fertilizer producer, posted earnings that beat expectations as expectations for a record corn crop in the US boosted demand. The Canadian company reported adjusted earnings of $2.65 per share in the three-month period ending in June, beating analyst expectations by 8.1%, according to an earnings statement on Wednesday. Nutrien sold a record amount of potash in the period and raised sales guidance for the year.
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Heat dome map shows dangerous temperatures across U.S. Corn Belt, parts of the South
A heat dome is trapping over 90 million Americans in extreme temperatures this week with the National Weather Service issuing heat alerts from Nebraska to Florida. Dangerous heat threatens to bake much of the Mississippi Valley and parts of the U.S. Southeast from Tuesday through at least Thursday, with temperatures over 100 degrees expected in some areas. Some places could see heat index values, or feels-like temperatures, 110 to 115 degrees. While not expected to reach record highs, temperatures are still forecasted to be about 10 to 15 degrees above average compared to what they typically are this time of year. As the extreme heat hits parts of the Corn Belt, a region over part of the Plains and Central Mississippi Valley where heat index values could reach between 105 and 110 degrees, high humidity is also expected. The common phenomenon is known as corn sweat, which occurs when extreme heat beats down on corn crop and causes it to perspire and increase the humidity in the air. Although record highs aren't forecasted this week, overnight lows in the mid 70s to low 80s could possibly break record high minimums in states like Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit that analyzes climate change data. High humidity coupled with extreme temperatures is dangerous because the combination significantly increases the likelihood of heat-related illnesses. Little to no overnight relief also poses a greater threat to health, NWS Prediction Center says. Climate change has made excessive heat in July at least three times more likely for nearly 160 million people in the U.S., nearly half the population, a Climate Central analysis found. Using its calculation of data and what is called a Climate Shift Index (CSI), the nonprofit said Monday that human-caused climate change made this extreme heat at least five times more likely for certain areas, from Salt Lake City and Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Tallahassee, Florida, and Montgomery, Alabama. The CSI uses real-time data to estimate how climate change has increased the likelihood of a particular daily temperature, according to Climate Central. Last month, another heat dome exposed nearly half of the country to dangerously high temperatures. On June 24, seven states tied or broke monthly high temperature records, many exceeding triple digits. One of those states, Maryland, reported that 472 people needed medical assistance for heat-related illnesses during that time when the heat index topped 110 degrees in some places. With such events becoming more common, Democratic lawmakers last week proposed legislation to classify extreme heat as a disaster, which would allow federal funding to flow into areas where hotter temperatures cause significant physical and economic distress.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Central New York's corn crop is taking its sweet time this season
BALDWINSVILLE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The fireworks are ready to pop, but Central New York's corn crop is still playing catch-up! This corn season, local farmers are anticipating the crop to be ready for your cookout by mid-July. At Abbott's Farm in Baldwinsville, the corn isn't anywhere near knee-high this season, which is the desired height farmers expect by the Fourth of July. 'It's been one of the wettest springs that I can remember,' said Abbott's Farm owner Warren Abbott. 'Normally, we want to have our corn in the first week of May, and this year we planted the first week of June.' It wasn't just rainy this spring—cloudy, misty weather persisted for weeks, along with smoke from the Canadian wildfires that added an extra layer of haze, blocking the sun when the corn needed the most sunlight. 'You need sunlight to make sugar, that's the basic building block of life. Everything comes from the photosynthetic process, and how the green plants are doing,' Abbott said. Although the corn crop is short now, farmers remain hopeful. The recent heat has been beneficial, and if the sunshine persists, the crop could still catch up. Abbott said farmers are used to adjusting, as every year brings different challenges. 'I might have to buy corn from New Jersey just to get through this year,' Abbott said. 'But next year will be different. It always is.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Zawya
30-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
What to make of surprisingly low US crop ratings: Braun
(The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a market analyst for Reuters.) NAPERVILLE, Illinois - The U.S. corn crop has gotten off to a somewhat disappointing start in what is supposed to be a record producing season. Meanwhile, U.S. spring wheat is experiencing its second-worst start to the growing season in history after this year's plantings dropped to a 55-year low. What might these early figures mean for the growing season overall? How do they compare with past years? And where are the problem spots and near-term prospects for improvement? SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday afternoon rated 68% of the U.S. corn crop in good-to-excellent (GE) condition in this season's initial rating, marking the lowest starting health since 2019. That was well below analysts' average estimate of 73% GE, though initial condition reports from the Crop Watch producers over the weekend averaged out to a six-year low, at least. A 68% GE is not all that bad. On average over the last three years, the initial U.S. corn score comes in around 72%. Additionally, the slower start may be explainable. The unanimous feedback from the Crop Watch producers was that it has been too cold, cloudy and rainy, and the plants are not growing quickly. Hail, frosts, wind, rain and even a period of excessive heat recently stressed crops in the western Corn Belt, which was reported by Crop Watchers. This showed up in USDA's data on Tuesday. Averaging initial corn conditions by state over the past three years, North Dakota and Ohio stand out. North Dakota at 48% GE is 24 percentage points below average and Ohio's 41% is 37 points below. Conditions in top producer Iowa are 4 percentage points ahead of normal, Illinois is 7 points behind, South Dakota is down 16 points, Nebraska is down 2 points and Minnesota is 4 points behind. OK OUTLOOK? Three factors may help ease any concerns about current U.S. corn crop health. The corn crop is only two-thirds emerged nationally, a lower-than-usual portion to coincide with the first condition scores. This allows for some play in the near-term figures, as newly emerged crops, if in good shape, could boost the overall score next week. Although not necessarily unusual, less than 40% of corn in Ohio and North Dakota was emerged as of Sunday, possibly allowing for future improvement. All Crop Watch producers last weekend expressed the dire need for heat and sun, and that should start arriving over the weekend after this week finishes out on the cooler, cloudy side. The pattern might not necessarily be long-lasting, but even a short, warm, sunny spell in early June can go a long way for early crop growth. U.S. corn was initially rated 65% GE in 2017, and calculations at the time pointed to near or below-trend yield probabilities. This caused the market to misjudge the crop potential all year, and the 2017 corn crop achieved a new record yield. The 2017 crop was rated 60% GE by the end of July, not too huge of a change from the initial. So even though 60% would not be considered stellar by itself, the lack of large rating swings that season may have been telling. WHEAT WOES U.S. spring wheat was rated 45% GE as of Sunday, tied with 2021 as the second-lowest initial rating over the 40-year history. The worst was 34% in 1988. Those two years are bad company, as they featured well-below-trend U.S. spring wheat yields as both seasons included drought. The 2025 crop is already starting in the hole as U.S. farmers intend to plant their smallest spring wheat area since 1970. Some 60% of U.S. spring wheat was emerged by Sunday, comparable to 66% on the same date in 2021. North Dakota, which produces half of the U.S. spring wheat crop, must remain on watch as only 37% of the wheat there is GE and 26% is considered poor or very poor. Recent cold and wet weather has battered the young wheat crop, so the coming flip to better weather may offer improvement opportunities. Market analysts had expected the initial spring wheat conditions to come in at 71% GE, so the result was much more shocking than the one for corn. But the lighter figures for both certainly set up the potential for market scares this summer if an unfavorable weather pattern were to set in. Karen Braun is a market analyst for Reuters. Views expressed above are her own. (Writing by Karen Braun Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Reuters
28-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
What to make of surprisingly low US crop ratings: Braun
NAPERVILLE, Illinois, May 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. corn crop has gotten off to a somewhat disappointing start in what is supposed to be a record producing season. Meanwhile, U.S. spring wheat is experiencing its second-worst start to the growing season in history after this year's plantings dropped to a 55-year low. What might these early figures mean for the growing season overall? How do they compare with past years? And where are the problem spots and near-term prospects for improvement? The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday afternoon rated 68% of the U.S. corn crop in good-to-excellent (GE) condition in this season's initial rating, marking the lowest starting health since 2019. That was well below analysts' average estimate of 73% GE, though initial condition reports from the Crop Watch producers, opens new tab over the weekend averaged out to a six-year low, at least. A 68% GE is not all that bad. On average over the last three years, the initial U.S. corn score comes in around 72%. Additionally, the slower start may be explainable. The unanimous feedback from the Crop Watch producers was that it has been too cold, cloudy and rainy, and the plants are not growing quickly. Hail, frosts, wind, rain and even a period of excessive heat recently stressed crops in the western Corn Belt, which was reported by Crop Watchers. This showed up in USDA's data on Tuesday. Averaging initial corn conditions by state over the past three years, North Dakota and Ohio stand out. North Dakota at 48% GE is 24 percentage points below average and Ohio's 41% is 37 points below. Conditions in top producer Iowa are 4 percentage points ahead of normal, Illinois is 7 points behind, South Dakota is down 16 points, Nebraska is down 2 points and Minnesota is 4 points behind. Three factors may help ease any concerns about current U.S. corn crop health. The corn crop is only two-thirds emerged nationally, a lower-than-usual portion to coincide with the first condition scores. This allows for some play in the near-term figures, as newly emerged crops, if in good shape, could boost the overall score next week. Although not necessarily unusual, less than 40% of corn in Ohio and North Dakota was emerged as of Sunday, possibly allowing for future improvement. All Crop Watch producers last weekend expressed the dire need for heat and sun, and that should start arriving over the weekend after this week finishes out on the cooler, cloudy side. The pattern might not necessarily be long-lasting, but even a short, warm, sunny spell in early June can go a long way for early crop growth. U.S. corn was initially rated 65% GE in 2017, and calculations at the time pointed to near or below-trend yield probabilities. This caused the market to misjudge the crop potential all year, and the 2017 corn crop achieved a new record yield. The 2017 crop was rated 60% GE by the end of July, not too huge of a change from the initial. So even though 60% would not be considered stellar by itself, the lack of large rating swings that season may have been telling. U.S. spring wheat was rated 45% GE as of Sunday, tied with 2021 as the second-lowest initial rating over the 40-year history. The worst was 34% in 1988. Those two years are bad company, as they featured well-below-trend U.S. spring wheat yields as both seasons included drought. The 2025 crop is already starting in the hole as U.S. farmers intend to plant their smallest spring wheat area since 1970. Some 60% of U.S. spring wheat was emerged by Sunday, comparable to 66% on the same date in 2021. North Dakota, which produces half of the U.S. spring wheat crop, must remain on watch as only 37% of the wheat there is GE and 26% is considered poor or very poor. Recent cold and wet weather has battered the young wheat crop, so the coming flip to better weather may offer improvement opportunities. Market analysts had expected the initial spring wheat conditions to come in at 71% GE, so the result was much more shocking than the one for corn. But the lighter figures for both certainly set up the potential for market scares this summer if an unfavorable weather pattern were to set in. Karen Braun is a market analyst for Reuters. Views expressed above are her own.
