Thursday's Floor Talk, April 14

[Jeff_a_Caldwell]

Just typing that subject line reminds me -- every got that taxman paid ahead of tomorrow?

If that's not depressing enough to think about, looks like a lower open for the grains this morning. Early calls for the grains are corn 7-10 lower, wheat 11-14 lower and soybeans 10-13 lower. In the overnight trade on the eCBOT, May corn futures traded 8 3/4 cents lower to $7.46 3/4 per bushel. May soybeans were 10 1/4 lower at $13.23 and May wheat was 14 cents lower at $7.39 per bushel.

Actually, the real reason the trade's a little sluggish this morning is because Marketeye called me earlier to say he's on his way back to Chicago after cruising the Illinois countryside the last couple of days. Blame him and give me all the credit for the higher prices yesterday! Ha!

Everybody getting soggy this morning? Showers here in Des Moines right now, but nothing too serious yet, anyway.

[SouthWestOhio]

Jeff, did Mike say if he actually saw any corn being planted?

[Jeff_a_Caldwell]

Yep, he said they were rolling hard down around Bloomington, Illinois. Said every farmer he stopped to hassle was running. Sounds like maybe everybody saw the forecast and was trying to get something done while they can. 

How about in your neck of the woods? Any wheels turning? 

[SouthWestOhio]

We are still muddy, (not wet). Some ground may be firm enough tomorrow to spread or spray on but another inch is expected Saturday and more on Tuesday. We'll be lucky to see anyone rolling for at least a week and longer if the predicted rains materialize late next week.

Monday's report said 1% of Ohio was planted. We're still trying to figure out where it was fit enough to plant. My seed guy doesn't know anyone that has started yet. Maybe the USDA was talking about the backyard sweet corn patches. 🙂

[Nitschke2]

Monday's USDA report showed 0% planting progress for Ohio. The 1% figure was for 2010.

[SouthWestOhio]

Nits thanks for straghtening me out. I feel much better.

[marketeye]

SouthWestOhio,

I did see plenty of planting. However, you had to get to Mt. Pulaski, about 30 miles south of Bloomington to find it. Also, around Decatur and west of Springfield. I'm working up video, photos, and farmer stories as we speak. Great weather, the past few days. Here's one of my photos from Beardstown, Illinois. The soil is the best it's been in years, farmers tell me.

[SouthWestOhio]

Nice pic, wow is that dust behind tha planter? We haven't seen that since last fall.

[KsGC]

Mike,

  Are you sure that you were in Illinois, those big dry dirt clods look just like western Kansas to me!!!!

[nwobcw]

   Taxes aren't due till the 18th this year for some reason I don't remember.   I saw 1 guy chiseling some of the lighter ground here today but wow was it slabby.  Guess he can't wait!   That must be a vacuum planter to be blowing dust like that.