Evening Edition | Monday, May 16, 2022

Planting Season Updates

As of Sunday, the USDA has pegged corn planted at 49% and soybeans at 30% planted. While both have more than doubled in the past week, they're still behind on the five-year averages.

"Weather looks to provide many growers an open window to get the crop planted this week, so look for a big increase in plantings next week," says Cory Bratland, chief grain strategist and commodities broker at Kluis Commodity Advisors.

• READ MORE: Corn and soybean planting more than doubles in the past week, USDA reports

In South Dakota, Lee Lubbers takes advantage of moisture to start planting his corn and soybeans. Chad Henderson hopes for a rain to sustain his knee-high corn in Alabama.

Lubbers says, "We are continuing to deal with numerous spot shortages. Diesel fuel has gotten to critical levels in the eastern and southern U.S. as I talk to fellow producers. We needed to scramble last week to find an extra 1,000 acres of a specific fungicide."

• READ MORE: Corn and soybean planting begins in South Dakota

While much of the region enjoyed warmer and drier weather, the northern Plains and Upper Midwest were the exception. Several days of showers and thunderstorms, some of which were severe, will have further delayed planting across this region.

Looking ahead to the week ending May 21, there will be sporadic chances of rain, and planting activities will need to be done between the rain drops.

• READ MORE: Planting heats up in Eastern and Central Corn Belt

New Fungicide

Editor Chelsea Dinterman reports on the new hybrid fungicide from Summit Agro USA.

Summit Agro USA noticed gaps in existing fungicide protection, prompting the creation of Regev HBX hybrid fungicide.

The fungicide will offer soybean, rice, and pecan growers greater disease protection.

• READ MORE: New hybrid fungicide offers expanded disease control

Undersecretaries for Trade and Nutrition

President Biden selected two veterans of U.S. agriculture and nutrition policy for sub-cabinet positions at the Agriculture Department. Stacy Dean was nominated to serve as undersecretary for nutrition and Alexis Taylor to be undersecretary for trade, announced the White House.

The nominations, which require Senate approval, would fill two of the four vacancies for undersecretary at USDA.

• READ MORE: Biden nominates two for USDA undersecretary posts