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Big questions loom as planting delays carry into June

A grain market analyst says she’s curious to see how farmers respond to continued planting delays.

Wet conditions have slowed planting progress in many parts of the Midwest this spring and forced some growers to replant.

Naomi Blohm with Stewart-Peterson says as the calendar turns to June, the window for planting corn is quickly closing.

“I have some farmers who are saying ‘you know what, forget it!  I’m just going to take prevent-plant and be done with it.”

She says there’s another group of producers considering planting soybeans instead.

“These are the questions the market is going to be watching.  And of course, if these acres go into prevent-plant versus a switch to soybeans, now you’ve got a totally different story on your hands.”

Blohm tells Brownfield farmers need to watch for marketing opportunities because she expects weather-driven volatility throughout the summer.

“The soybean market is one where I’m looking at scenario planning for negative price activity (or) positive price activity, and I’m just going to be ready for whatever the market throws at me.”

Blohm is also watching other potential influences, like the stock market, value of the dollar, and crude oil prices.