Latest News From Meghan Vick

Areas of the Midwest and High Plains received welcome rainfall the week ending Aug. 24, leading to localized drought improvement. But areas that missed out saw drought conditions worsen over the past week.

Sales of old- and new-crop corn were in line with expectations. Soybean sales were strong, as expected, with much of the business known thanks to USDA’s daily reporting system.

Light pressure on corn and soybeans, but wheat bounces back. Bipartisan House bill would promote ethanol use. Philippines approves Golden Rice for commercial use. Beef prices soften for second day in a row.

ERS made upward revisions to its 2021 food inflation forecasts for all food, restaurant and grocery store prices.

ERS hikes 2021 food price outlooks. USDA establishes Dairy Donation Program. Covid-19 outbreaks in sparsely vaccinated Asian countries is disrupting factories.

Another round of rain for dry areas of the Midwest. House approves budget resolution. Biden said he planned to stick to his Aug. 31 deadline for military withdrawal. Month-plus streak of beef gains comes to an end.

USDA makes long-awaited adjustments to CFAP 2 for livestock and poultry contract growers. Pelosi, moderates reach budget deal.

USDA announced today that it is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities.

Corn, soybean CCI ratings continue to decline. Worries about what another La Nina-plagued growing season might mean for South America. Some Senate Republicans urge EPA to set 2021, 2022 RVOs below ethanol "blend wall."

But cotton ratings shot higher once more as Texas continues to receive rain.

There were 401.26 million lbs. of beef in the nation’s freezers at the end of July, just a 256,000-MT decline from the end of June versus the five-year average increase of 23.6 million lbs. for the month.

Highlights from USDA's latest Crop Progress and Condition update. AgRural reports early 2021-22 corn planting is underway in Brazil. Negligible month-to-month change in frozen stocks of beef and pork.

Your midmorning update on commodity market action.

USDA also revised last week’s tally a substantial, 120,000 MT higher. Shipments of corn and soybeans were in line with expectations.

Dry Northern Plains, western Corn Belt welcome rain. Reports signal EPA sending proposed RFS levels to OMB for review. Biden tries to limit political and real damage of Afghanistan withdrawal.

Pro Farmer national corn and soybean crop estimates. Reuters is reporting EPA plans to propose lowering RFS blending targets from 2020 levels. Neutral to friendly Cattle on Feed Report.

This issue is all about our Crop Tour findings and our Pro Farmer crop estimates.

Highlights from Day 4 of our Crop Tour. Some rains fall in far western Corn Belt. Survey finds continuing strong rural economy. Choice beef takes out June highs.

Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 190.8 bu. per acre. Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 1.218.

Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 177.4 bu. per acre. Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 1,027.

Tune in for coverage of the last day of coverage with scouts sampling fields in Iowa and Minnesota. Results for these states will be unveiled at 8:00 p.m. CT.

Preliminary Route Reports. Warm, dry September outlook for northwest Corn Belt, wet for eastern Belt. Drought spreads and intensifies across much of the Midwest and High Plains.

Get preliminary route reports from Crop Tour leaders as they make their way through Iowa and Minnesota on the final day of the tour.

Your midmorning update on commodity market action.

The northwest Corn Belt has been particularly hard-hit.

The 30- and 90-day forecast maps maintain concerns about drought-stressed crops in the northwest Corn Belt but they signal crops in the eastern Belt should have the moisture needed to finish strong.

Aggressive buying by China (much of which was known) powered the strong showing.

Day 3 Crop Tour results. Much anticipated rains expected to move into Northern Plains today, Canada records first frost. Beef processing margins near $1,000/head.

Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 196.30 bu. per acre for Illinois. Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 1,279.79.

Full results for the state will be released tomorrow.

Watch this live broadcast as Tour leaders and scouts comment on what they found on routes through Illinois and western Iowa, with results unveiled at 8:00 p.m. CT.

Stream the nightly meetings here. The video begins at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Preliminary route reports from Crop Tour. Fed officials still worried about health of U.S. economy.

Your Tour leaders share a midday update as they sample fields in Illinois and western Iowa.

Day 2 Crop Tour results. Rain still in the forecast for the Northern Plains, Canada’s Prairies. China’s YTD grain imports up sharply from 2020. FOMC minutes due to with focus on tapering discussion.

Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 182.6 bu. per acre for Nebraska. Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 1,226.

Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 193.5 bu. per acre for Indiana. Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 1,240.

Stream our nightly Crop Tour meetings here. The video begins at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Preliminary route reports. Fed banks highlight double-digit gains in farmland values.

Get preliminary updates from Tour leaders as they make their way through Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois.

Day 1 Crop Tour results for South Dakota and Ohio. Biden defends withdrawal amid deadly chaos in Afghanistan. China’s sow herd contracts for first time in nearly two years.

Scouts measured an average corn yield potential of 151.45 bu. per acre for the state. Soybean pod counts in 3'x3' came in at 996.86.

Scouts measured an average corn yield potential of 185.06 bu. per acre for Ohio. Soybean pod counts in 3'x3' came in at 1,195.37.

Spring wheat ratings held steady, with just 11% of the crop rated "good" or "excellent."

Preliminary route reports from Day 1 of Crop tour. Corn and soybean ratings come in lower than expected. Disappointing July crush.

Tour leaders share preliminary comments and results from their routes through South Dakota, Nebraska, Indiana and Ohio.

The July crush came in nearly 4 million bu. lighter than analysts anticipated, with soyoil stocks unexpectedly climbing for the month.

USDA made some notable upside revisions to last week’s inspections number for corn and wheat.

Pro Farmer Crop Tour begins. Rain chances for the Midwest and Northern Plains later this week. Argentina reroutes funds to help with low water along the Parana River. Big jump for pork values on Friday.

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