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National & World Ag News Headlines |
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Freeze Hits Wheat Crop Across the Country
USAgNet - 04/10/2007
The Easter weekend freeze dealt the wheat crop a severe blow. Temperatures dropped into the teens in northern and central
Kansas and the low 20s in southern Kansas. Lows fell to the mid 20s into north central Oklahoma. More than half the wheat
crop was in the joint stage in Kansas and some of the crop in the affected region of Oklahoma was in the boot stage. Crop
losses could be substantial in that important area of the hard red winter wheat region.
Damaging cold extended into the Delta and Southeast as well. Temperatures fell to the low 20s from southeastern Missouri
across Tennessee to North Carolina. Most of the wheat in those areas probably ranges from the joint to boot state so heavy
damage is quite possible.
The extent of the crop losses will be difficult to assess. There is little doubt that many fields will suffer heavy losses but wheat in
the joint stage may be able to stage a respectable recovery. Damage to the primary tiller can allow secondary tillers to
compensate enough to regain a surprising amount of yield potential. However, the crop will need favorable weather conditions
to take advantage of that potential.
A similar freeze occurred on April 12, 1997. Initial assessments reflected heavy damage and crop condition ratings nose-dived.
Despite the severe freeze, yields turned out surprisingly favorable and USDA wheat production estimates increased sharply
from May until July.
Wheat futures will be up sharply in the near term in reaction to the freeze. The uncertainty will continue to underpin the market
for the next couple of weeks. Beyond late April, corn planting progress and more reliable assessments of the freeze damage will
determine market direction.
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