US spring planting faces high soil moisture: USDA

Spanish Market: Agriculture
03/04/23

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) crop progress report shows elevated levels of soil moisture in the major grain producing states, which could slow spring planting.

In its first crop progress report for the 2023-24 marketing year, the USDA reports 19pc surplus condition for topsoil compared with 13pc at the same time last year and 57pc adequate as compared to 50pc last year.

Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin are all over 45pc in surplus condition, representing 28pc of corn acreage for 2023-24.

The northern states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota are at 12pc, 8pc and 27pc, respectively, although the potential for flooding exists based on NOAA's spring outlook.The USDA shows Texas at 57pc of intended corn acres planted versus the five-year average of 54pc. With that said, corn planting begins in late April for most of the Midwest with most of the corn crop planted by mid-May.

Winter wheat conditions are 28pc good to excellent versus the same time last year at 30pc, while poor to very poor are at 36pc this year, similar to last year.

By Eduardo Gonzalez

Surplus Moisture.pdf Surplus Moisture

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

09/05/25

Brazil's inflation accelerates to 5.53pc in April

Sao Paulo, 9 May (Argus) — Brazil's annualized inflation rate rose to 5.53pc in April, accelerating for a third month despite six central bank rate hikes since September aimed at cooling the economy. The country's annualized inflation accelerated from 5.48pc in March and 5.06pc in February, according to government statistics agency IBGE. Food and beverages rose by an annual 7.81pc, up from 7.68pc in March. Ground coffee increased at an annual 80.2pc, accelerating from 77.78pc in the month prior. Still, soybean oil prices decelerated to 22.83pc in April from 24.36pc in March. Domestic power consumption costs rose to 0.71pc from 0.33pc a month earlier. Transportation costs decelerated to 5.49pc from 6.05pc in March. Gasoline prices slowed to a 8.86pc gain from 10.89pc a month earlier. The increase in ethanol and diesel prices decelerated as well to 13.9pc and 6.42pc in April from 20.08pc and 8.13pc in March, respectively. The hike in compressed natural gas prices (CNG) fell to 3.5pc from 3.92pc a month prior. Inflation posted the seventh consecutive monthly increase above the central bank's goal of 3pc, with tolerance of 1.5 percentage point above or below. Brazil's central bank increased its target interest rate for the sixth time in a row to 14.75pc on 7 May. The bank has been trying to counter soaring inflation as it has recently changed the way it tracks its goal. Monthly cooldown But Brazil's monthly inflation decelerated to 0.43pc in April from a 0.56pc gain in March. Food and beverages decelerated on a monthly basis to 0.82pc in April from a 1.17pc increase a month earlier, according to IBGE. Housing costs also decelerated to 0.24pc from 0.14pc in March. Transportation costs contracted by 0.38pc and posted the largest monthly contraction in April. Diesel prices posted the largest contraction at 1.27pc in April. Petrobras made three diesel price readjustments in April-May. By Maria Frazatto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU consults on tariffs for €95bn US imports

09/05/25

EU consults on tariffs for €95bn US imports

Brussels, 9 May (Argus) — The European Commission is consulting on an extensive list, worth €95bn ($107bn), of US industrial, agricultural and other imports that could be subject to tariff countermeasures. The long list includes extends from livestock, biofuels, wood pellets to metals, aircraft, tankers and polymers . The consultation runs until midday on 10 June. It is aimed at stakeholders affected by US measures and possible EU rebalancing measures. Also considered for possible countermeasures are restrictions, worth €4.4bn, on EU exports to the US of steel, iron and aluminium scrap, as well as toluidines, alcoholic solutions and enzymes (CN codes 7204, 7602, 292143, 330210 and 350790). The commission linked the possible new measures to US universal tariffs and to Washington's specific tariffs on cars and car parts. The commission said the public consultation is a necessary procedural step. It does not automatically result in countermeasures. The EU also launched a WTO dispute procedure against the US for Washington's universal tariffs, set at 20pc for EU goods and currently paused at 10pc, and at 25pc on all imports of vehicles and car parts. The commission will need approval by EU governments under a simplified legislative procedure. Officials say this will complete a legal act for the countermeasures, making them "ready to use" if talks with the US do not produce a "satisfactory" result. The list of products potentially targeted includes livestock, along with items ranging from spectacles to antiques. The 218-page list includes a range of agricultural and food products including oats, maize, and cereal pellets. Also included are biodiesel and wood pellets (CN codes 38260010, 44013100), as well as paper and cotton products. Aluminium, iron, steel are listed together with a wide range of other goods from gas turbines, ships propellers and blades, aircraft, sea-going tankers and other vessels. Polymers, copolymers, polyesters and other products are not spared (CN codes 39039090 and more). On 10 April, the EU paused its reciprocal tariffs against the US for 90 days, responding to a US pause. The EU notes that €379bn, or 70pc, of the bloc's exports to the US are currently subject to new or paused tariffs. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US, Mexico reach deal to continue cattle imports

08/05/25

US, Mexico reach deal to continue cattle imports

Sydney, 8 May (Argus) — The US has agreed to keep ports open to livestock imports from Mexico after the Latin American nation agreed to waive restrictions on efforts to curb the spread of New World Screwworm (NWS). US agricultural secretary Brooke Collins met with her Mexican counterpart Julio Berdegue in Washington on 7 May and discussed solutions to eradicate NWS. The countries reached agreements that will be beneficial to both parties, Berdegue said on 7 May. This comes after Mexico agreed on 30 April to remove restrictions on specialty aircraft and duties on eradication equipment that are part of the emergency response to curb the spread of NWS. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) threatened to ban live cattle imports from 30 April if Mexico did not eliminate restrictions and duties impeding NWS eradication efforts. NWS can kill infected livestock and was detected in southern Mexico in late 2024, leading to a US ban on Mexican cattle imports in November 2024-January 2025. The ban was lifted in early February after Mexico enforced new cattle screening measures. The threatened port closures could have pressured the already tight US beef supply, with slaughter down by 6pc and beef production down by 2pc on the year as of 2 May, according to USDA Federal Inspection estimates. The US imports feeder cattle to support beef production and is looking to fill beef supply shortages caused by a historically small US herd. Cattle imports from Mexico reached 1.25mn head in the 2024 calendar year, representing about 4pc of total cattle slaughtered, according to USDA data. By Edward Dunlop Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India launches attacks on Pakistan

06/05/25

India launches attacks on Pakistan

Houston, 6 May (Argus) — India's military said it launched attacks today against nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in retaliation for an April terrorist attack that killed dozens. India's ministry of defense said its strikes were a "precise and restrained response" to a 22 April incident near Pahalgam in Kashmir where 26 tourists were killed. They were focused on "terrorist infrastructure sites", the ministry said on the social media site X in a post Tuesday at 4:49pm ET. "Importantly, no Pakistani military facilities were hit, reflecting India's calibrated and non-escalatory approach," the ministry said. The government of Pakistan said on its own X account that five sites had been hit in the attacks. "Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given," the Pakistan government wrote. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Mexico's manufacturing contraction deepens in April

05/05/25

Mexico's manufacturing contraction deepens in April

Mexico City, 5 May (Argus) — Activity in Mexico's manufacturing sector shrank for a 13th straight month in April, with declines accelerating in production and new orders, according to a survey of purchasing managers. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 45.5 in April from 46.9 in March, finance executives' association IMEF said, moving further below the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction. US tariffs imposed since March are adding pressure to Mexico's manufacturing sector, which makes up about a fifth of the national economy. The auto industry, responsible for roughly 18pc of manufacturing GDP, may be the hardest hit by the new measures, including a 25pc tariff on auto parts that took effect 3 May. Mexico remains the top exporter of vehicles to the US, supplying 23pc of all US auto imports in 2024. But IMEF said tariffs compound broader, mostly domestic headwinds, including reduced public spending and investor uncertainty stemming from sweeping legal and regulatory reforms. New investment has stalled since late 2024. The PMI index for new orders fell by 2.5 points to 41.8, the lowest since June 2020. Production dropped by 2.5 points to 43.6, while employment fell by 0.6 point to 46.4. New orders and production have now been in contraction for 14 straight months, and employment for 15. Inventories saw the steepest drop in April, falling 4 points to 46.3 — sliding from expansion to contraction — as manufacturers accelerated shipments after tariff implementation dates were confirmed. IMEF's non-manufacturing PMI — which covers services and commerce — remained in contraction for a fifth consecutive month but edged up by 0.5 points to 49.0 in April. Within that index, new orders rose by 0.6 points to 48.1, employment increased 1.3 points to 48.6 and production held steady at 47.5. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more