#Plant26: Iowa Farmers Plant Quickly as Rising Costs and Export Markets Send Mixed Signals

BEDFORD, IOWA (RFD NEWS) — Corn again led the weekly export sales report, while soybean sales slowed, wheat stayed modest, and cotton remained steady. USDA said old-crop corn sales totaled about 53.6 million bushels for the week ending April 30, with exports reaching roughly 81.0 million bushels. Taiwan, Colombia, South Korea, Mexico, and Japan were the top buyers.

Soybean sales fell to about 5.2 million bushels, a marketing-year low, while exports totaled about 19.5 million bushels. China, Japan, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia were the main buyers. Wheat sales came in at about 2.9 million bushels, with exports near 17.4 million bushels, led by Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and the Dominican Republic.

Soybean meal was one of the stronger side stories. Old-crop sales reached 312,100 metric tons, and exports were 350,300 metric tons, with the Philippines and Colombia leading. Soybean oil was quieter, with just 1,000 metric tons in sales and 1,300 metric tons exported.

Seperately, Cotton sales totaled 123,300 running bales for upland and 11,500 for Pima. Upland exports were 327,500 bales, led by Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, and China.

Beef sales also softened to 10,000 metric tons, but exports improved to 14,200 metric tons. Pork sales were 30,800 metric tons, and exports reached 40,400 metric tons, with Mexico and Japan again leading.

Spring planting continues to move ahead of the five-year average, with both corn and soybeans progressing quickly across much of the country. However, dry conditions and cooler temperatures are raising concerns about crop development in parts of the Midwest.

Aimee Bissell of Bissell Family Farms joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to provide an update from her operation in Iowa.

In her conversation with RFD News, Bissell shared background on her family’s farming operation and discussed how weather conditions have impacted planting this season. She also outlined current planting progress and compared this year’s pace to previous seasons.

The conversation also focused on fertilizer and diesel price concerns, as well as discussions in parts of the Midwest about dry conditions and cooler temperatures affecting early crop development.

Bissell also shared her outlook for the growing season.

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