CORN
- Corn is trading lower this morning after yesterday afternoon’s crop progress showed that producers were able to get a good chunk of the crop in the ground despite the scattered rain.
- Corn was 49% planted versus a trade estimate of 48%, 26% complete a week ago, and 42% on average. 12% of the crop is emerged.
- Yesterday’s export inspections were on the low side at 38 million bushels, and the average is 51 mb for inspections to reach the USDA’s estimates.
- Brazil’s second crop corn sales have begun to slow as prices fall and shipping becomes difficult due to bottlenecking at ports. Forward sales hit 24.3% of expected production of 92.2 mmt.
SOYBEANS
- Soybeans are trading lower this morning after a good jump in crop progress yesterday, and export inspections yesterday morning were decent.
- Crop progress showed that 35% of soybeans are planted which was above trade estimates, with 19% planted a week ago and ahead of the 21% average. 9% of the crop is emerged.
- Yesterday’s export inspections totaled 14.5 mb but 15 mb are needed each week. It is possible that USDA expectations aren’t met despite the fact that year-to-date inspections are above a year ago.
- China’s imports of soybeans fell 10% in April compared to a year ago as stricter clearance processes at customs have delayed the processing of cargoes.
WHEAT
- Wheat is beginning the day mixed with Chicago posting the most losses, KC down slightly, and Minn wheat higher. Poor weather conditions in the US have been supportive.
- Spring wheat is 24% planted, below the average trade guess and below the average of 38% for this time of year. 5% of the spring wheat crop is emerged.
- In winter wheat, the good-to-excellent rating rose 1% to 29%, but the poor-to-very poor rating rose from 42% last week to 44%. 38% of the wheat is headed.
- Tensions between Ukraine and Russia remain high, and the Zaporizhzhia power plant is under threat of a nuclear accident again due to the fighting, but a meeting between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the UN has been pushed up to May 10 where they will discuss the Black Sea agreement.