Arkansas corn harvest starts, wheat seed limited

Amid the dog days of August, corn is being harvested and wheat seed is increasingly hard to find. Reached by Delta Farm Press this week, Jason Kelley, Arkansas Extension corn and wheat specialist, had the following comments:

On wheat seed availability…

“Right now, it’s a free-for-all. Everyone is looking, everybody is scrounging, and everyone who ordered some needs more.

“I think the amount of seed that’s available will limit the number of acres we plant. Every so often, there are claims that a hot crop is going to be short of seed. Then, seed — but maybe not the most desired varieties — will show up.

“This time, though, the wheat seed shortage will limit acreage. Arkansas planted very little wheat last year. And it isn’t just us. The same was true for Mississippi, Louisiana — essentially the whole Southeast and the soft red winter wheat region. I hear a lot of seed production fields weren’t planted because of wet weather.

“So, you get that scenario set up and then there’s a run-up in the market price. That’s why there’s a seed shortage.”

On the wheat supply…

“Apparently, the current supply of wheat isn’t a problem (for more, see World wheat supplies adequate). Think back a few months and everyone was saying there was a glut of wheat.

“Then, there’s news about drought in Russia — and thing are bad over there — and they shut down exports (for more, see http://deltafarmpress.com/wheat/russian-wheat-drought-speculation-0806/index.html and Russian wheat crop shrinks). But this speculation is based on what the wheat supply levels might be in a year.”

Source: http://deltafarmpress.com/wheat/arkansas-corn-harvest-starts-wheat-seed-limited-0818/

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Wheat: Export Bans, Seed, Acreage

Russia banned grain exports on Aug. 15, and it now appears Ukraine will follow suit. Both nations are suffering from massive drought — the worst in 50 years — that has ruined yields and made the countries leaders eschew export sales to shore up native food supplies.

Russia banned grain exports on Aug. 15, and it now appears Ukraine will follow suit. Both nations are suffering from massive drought — the worst in 50 years — that has ruined yields and made the countries leaders eschew export sales to shore up native food supplies.

In early August, as the wheat market was responding to Russia’s expected ban, Delta Farm Press spoke with Dan Basse, president of Chicago-based AgResource Co. (see Russian wheat, drought and speculation). Among his comments during a follow-up interview on Aug. 16:

What you’re hearing on the wheat front?

“After this weekend, the area of Russia, the Ukraine and Bulgaria has a bit wetter forecast. Even though there were some showers over the weekend, most were less than a quarter-inch across the grain-growing area of Russia. But the climatologists suggest this weather profile brings a chance for more rainfall and cooler temperatures.

“To me, that’s important because there’s a chance to get the winter wheat crop in the ground. They can plant from the last days of August through mid-October.

“In my mind, that’s something we should be watching. And I think that’s also the case in the wheat market’s mind. However, I hate to become too bearish on Chicago’s September wheat that’s below, say, $6.50 per bushel (nearly $2 off the high set in early August).

“Undoubtedly, though, the wheat market kind of has its tail between its legs and is suffering from the prospect of Russia’s drought being a one-time event rather than multi-year.”

Have you heard anything about wheat seed availability?

“We’ve been hearing (about a potential dearth) of seed. Interest in planting wheat has been very big across the Midwest, the Delta and stretching into the Plains. Seed producers we’ve talked to cite very strong demand. There still seems to be seed available and there should be enough for everyone.