Probably not....But as I was coming through a town in North Dakota today, I thought to myself, "Wheatland needs to change its name, to Cornland or Beanland." Because I saw a lot of corn - looked overall better than ours in MN, although still far behind, and I saw no beans up, but planting being done today. And I saw 1 field of wheat - that was still wheat in the Wheatland area and hadn't been baled - yet.
South of Minneapolis along Hwy 52 (sand contry) is looking pretty good right now. West of Minneapolis (along I94) has a few good spots of corn, but quite far behind and lots and lots of yellow corn and drowned out areas. I took some pictures, but the pictures just don't tell the story. Maybe the green scale between last year and this year should be compared at this point. Around Fargo was some of the best corn that I have seen this season. I was impressed and had it continued as I went west of Fargo, I would have to reevaluate what I feel our crop here looks like. Let's just say there wasn't alot to write home about. Other than the crop that is there is behind, lots of yellow spots but mostly planted, unlike what MN was a week ago. Once I got west of Bismark, there was more wheat. Still quite short overall, several areas that had headed out and looked OK. But that was the exception. And everywhere there was still mud to be found.
Overall, I was taken back by the general lack of wheat in general. I saw very little spring wheat, and really, not much winter wheat either. Again, another market where I guess that Americas crop just doesn't matter anymore. I guess someone else is doing a better job (or cheaper job) all around than us here in the USA. The other thing that stands out, is the lateness of all the crops. Many, many fields of beans being planted. Guys, like this is double crop territory on planting. ie - here in MN you take off the peas and double crop the fields into beans. Yield on these beans are way poorer than getting them in at the "normal" time, but here we are. Still planting away for - what - say 1/2 of a normal crop. As I write this I scratch my head and still say - these markets are way off on prices right now. Maybe end users will just shut the doors when we run out and take a vacation like me. Maybe that's the thought process. But whtever is going on is really strange...
Jen
