BUCKEYE, ARIZ. (RFD NEWS) — Ninety-four percent of the U.S. corn crop is in the ground this week. Agricultural economists are eager for additional data later this month, saying all eyes will be on weather conditions between now and then.
“It’s all going to be about weather. We got the acre number coming at the end of the month,” John Heinberg said. “We’ll see what happens with that. We’re going to be down corn acres from last year, but is it up a little bit from where we were in March? We’ll have to see. Same thing with the soybean side as well. And then, after we get through that report on the 30th of June, it’s all going to be about weather and where we are there.”
Some areas of the Corn Belt have received a good amount of rain over the last week.
USDA’s latest numbers show 68 percent of the corn crop is rated good to excellent. Just 6 percent is sitting in the bottom category.
Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) say temperatures in the Pacific are now officially warm enough to usher in El Niño.
Some meteorologists are preparing for a “super” El Niño this year, but others are not so sure.
“I mean, if you go to the latest forecasts, all of a sudden, you know, it peaks in like September, and then it starts declining a bit,” said Cliff Mass. “So, the super El Niño now, I think, is sort of off the table based on these. So, I mean, the most probable is a moderate. Could be strong, but the super one does not appear to be probable at this point.”
Mass said that looking ahead to summer, he expects some heat waves across farm country, but nothing too intense.
Weather remains a constant concern for farmers, particularly during the summer growing season, as drought conditions, water availability, and other challenges continue to influence agricultural operations and land values.
Shawn Wood, broker and accredited appraiser with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to discuss how current conditions are affecting farmland market trends in Arizona.
In his interview with RFD News, Wood discussed how agricultural real estate markets are responding to ongoing challenges such as drought and negotiations over the Colorado River, and what those factors could mean for landowners and producers.
He also addressed the potential impact of the New World screwworm outbreak on livestock operations and whether concerns about animal health could influence land use decisions or rural real estate activity.
Wood discussed labor shortages across agriculture and how workforce challenges may affect farm operations, land values, farm transitions, and long-term investment decisions in rural communities.
He also shared his perspective on the current state of Arizona’s agricultural real estate market as producers navigate development pressure, water uncertainty, financial challenges, and emerging animal health concerns.
