By DTN Staff
OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of Oct. 29. Watch for coverage of these and other topics through the week on our subscription platforms as well as on www.DTNPF.com.
1. Cold hits Northern harvest: With some areas of North America already seeing snow and frigid conditions, crop harvest in those areas gets trickier. We will examine the results of weather that turn combines into ersatz snowblowers. Mike and Chandra Langseth, one of our View From the Cab families, have already been preparing for the challenge. You can read about them here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….
2. South American crop conditions: El Nino usually means drier weather for much of Brazil. But "drier" in an area that normally receives too much rainfall this time of year may not be as bad for the crop as one thinks. We're watching how much conditions will influence the current crop and prospects for the safrina (second-crop) corn. Watch our Ag Weather Forum blog here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….
3. Fertilizers and wars: We've written quite a bit in the past about how the war in the Black Sea affects fertilizer shipments out of Russia and other areas. As it happens, Israel is a fairly important supplier of phosphates. We'll be keeping an eye on all those outlying influences, as well as our usual reporting on fertilizer prices, found in our DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends column. DTN subscribers can see even more detailed price information in their Fuels and Fertilizers or Fertilizers segments, depending on their specific product.
4. More wheat winners: We'll continue to feature the winners in the National Wheat Foundation 2023 contest. Now in its eighth year, the NWF's National Wheat Yield Contest is designed to encourage wheat growers to strive for high yield, quality and profit while trying new and innovative management strategies. DTN/Progressive Farmer is the official media outlet of the competition. Contest partners include: John Deere, WestBred, BASF, U.S. Wheat Associates, Croplan, Eastman, The McGregor Companies, AgriMaxx, Ardent Mills, BushelFarm, Dyna-Gro, GrainSense, Limagrain Cereal Seeds, Mennel, North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association, Ohio Corn&Wheat, PlainsGold, UniSouth Genetics, UPL, Grain Craft, Grow Pro, Kansas Wheat, Michigan Wheat, Miller Milling, North Dakota Mill, and Northern Crops Institute.
5. Economic reports to watch: (All times CDT) Monday -- USDA's weekly grain export inspections is set for 10 a.m., followed by Crop Progress at 3 p.m. Tuesday -- Happy Halloween! The Federal Reserve begins its two-day meeting that may spook markets with a quarter-percent rate hike on Wednesday. The U.S. Labor Department releases its employment cost index for the third quarter at 7:30 a.m., followed by the U.S. consumer confidence report at 9 a.m. Wednesday -- We'll check manufacturing indices from around the world, with the U.S. index due out at 9 a.m. The U.S. Energy Department's weekly report of energy inventories follows at 9:30 a.m. At 1 p.m., the Federal Reserve announces its decision on interest rates. At 2 p.m., NASS releases its monthly report on Fats and Oils. Thursday -- USDA releases its weekly export sales report at 7:30 a.m., the same time as U.S. weekly jobless claims, a report on third-quarter U.S. productivity and an update of the U.S. Drought Monitor. U.S. factory orders for September will be out at 9 a.m., followed by the U.S. Energy Department's weekly report of natural gas storage at 9:30 a.m. Friday -- We wrap up the week with the U.S. Labor Department nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate for October, hitting at 7:30 a.m.
Watch for the latest news at www.dtnpf.com, and follow and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dtnprogressivefarmer
(c) Copyright 2023 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.