05/16/25 Afternoon CommStock Report – New Crop Season Marked by Regional Contrasts

For the lack of concern that the crop markets have shown for problems with planting, there are still many individual cases of farmers working under tough weather conditions. Regional crop weather differences have remained sharp to start the season, both across the country and within the state of Illinois. New crop threats have also developed in certain spots abroad, such as China’s drought impacting grain production there.   The country continues to be split by generally drier conditions in the West and wetter tendencies in the East. Crop progress estimates show states in the Western Corn Belt being well ahead within their normal planting windows. Anecdotal evidence from Iowa and South Dakota includes many farmers remarking that they have finished planting corn as early as ever.  In the East, Ohio has been noted for facing recent planting disruptions from rain while lagging advancement in Kentucky has followed from April floods across the Mid-South region.   The West vs. East weather differences have overlapped with more of a North vs. South contrast in Illinois. Northern Illinois farmers who are closer to Iowa have similarly reported finishing planting quickly, while farmers in Southern Illinois carry on toward the later end of their…