Eastern Cornbelt: Drier weather allowed regional growers to peck away at spring planting last week, but another round of thunderstorms was expected in Indiana and Ohio as the week advanced. Cooler weather was also in store again, with weekend highs expected to reach only into the 50s and 60s in many areas.
USDA reported that 7-8 percent of the regional corn crop was seeded by May 5, well behind the five-year averages of 48 percent in Illinois, 41 percent in Indiana, and 39 percent in Ohio. Soybean planting had yet to start in Illinois and Indiana by that date, while Ohio growers had just 1 percent of the crop in the ground.
With demand drying up quickly in the region, sources quoted the spot ammonia market in the $750-$760/st range FOB Illinois terminals, with the upper end quoted at $770-$780/st FOB in Indiana.
Western Cornbelt: Sources said improving weather conditions allowed growers to get in the field and begin planting in many areas of the Western Cornbelt region last week, but progress remained well behind the average pace.
USDA reported that just 8 percent of the Iowa corn crop was seeded by May 5, some 48 percentage points behind the five-year average for that date. Nebraska and Missouri corn growers were also well behind the five-year average of 53 percent, with planting estimated at 22 percent complete in Missouri and just 14 percent in Nebraska by May 5.
As for soybeans, Nebraska growers had just 1 percent of the crop seeded by May 5, while soybean planting progress in Iowa and Missouri had yet to register on USDA’s weekly update.
Despite a steady dose of rain and snow in April, the U.S. Drought Monitor continued to show extreme drought conditions across much of Nebraska last week. Nearly all of Missouri, by contrast, was drought free in early May, while Iowa continued to experience abnormally-dry to moderate-drought conditions in the eastern counties.
On the fertilizer front, sources reported only slight changes to the spot market last week.
Ammonia pricing continued to be quoted in the $675-$685/st FOB range out of Nebraska terminals, $700-$720/st FOB in Iowa, and up to $730-$740/st FOB in the Missouri market.
California: Sources reported strong fertilizer movement in the state last week, particularly for liquid products.
Ammonia applications on rice in Northern California were steady but winding down last week. USDA reported that 40 percent of the California rice crop was planted by May 5, while cotton planting was estimated at 90 percent complete in California and 85 percent in Arizona.
Anhydrous ammonia remained at $765-$770/st DEL in California, with aqua ammonia referenced at the $205/st FOB level.
Pacific Northwest: Warm, dry weather allowed growers in much of the Pacific Northwest to make quick progress on spring planting in early May. USDA’s May 6 crop report indicated that planting was ahead of the five-year average for most crops in the region.
Sources continued to report concerns about drought in the region, with reports that rainfall totals for parts of Oregon were already 8 inches behind normal for the year. The May 7 Drought Monitor reported abnormally-dry to moderate-drought conditions across Oregon and southern Idaho. Drought conditions in Wyoming and southern Montana ranged from moderate to severe, although both states contained pockets of extreme drought in early May.
Sources reported some pressure on spot nitrogen prices last week. “We’ll be wrapped up before the Midwest gets cooking,” said one contact.
Anhydrous ammonia pricing was slipping, but sources reported a broad range of pricing. Washington sources quoted the market at $730/st rail-DEL on the low end for tons shipped from the Midwest, while other sources continued to report tr