What does all this weather mean for farmers in the corn belt?

Like many of you, I have been enjoying the warm weather we have been having for the last few months. But what does this unseasonable warm weather mean for our farmers here in the corn belt? Obviously, weather plays a huge role in the success of a farmer's crop, but it is also a variable that farmer's have no control over. This is a pretty scary thought... but mother nature seems to be on our side so far this year!



Warmer weather early in spring gave farmers the opportunity to get their corn in the ground in record time this year. Although planting early increases the risk of frost killing a young crop, many farmers got lucky and avioded that threat.
In theory, early planting means there will be many farmers harvesting earlier than usual this fall. However, the weather we will have this summer is going to play a huge role in how quickly this years corn crop matures. Corn needs good summer heat and rain to grow efficiently, so the farmers aren't done gambling on the weather yet.
If mother nature continues to favor the corn crop, and early harvest will have an affect of corn prices. Corn stocks are expected to shrink significantly this year, so every bushel of corn counts. An early crop could cause market prices to rise, which is good for our corn farmers, but will increase feed costs for livestock farmers and different products in the grocery stores.
It is hard to say what the outcome of the corn crop will be this year, but so far many of our corn farmers are pleased with the way things are going!