Hope most growers in our trade area are finally starting to wrap up the spraying and spreading as the weather has allowed us to get back in those fields.  With the timely moisture we’ve had this summer the crops are starting to look great. The heat and humidity are finally in the air. This is a perfect time to scout and be checking the crops as we get into reproductive stages in both corn and soybeans.  In corn VT or full tassel is optimal time for fungicide application and in soybeans application at R1 can be beneficial for heavy white mold areas and again at (R3-R4) beginning to full pod.

The risk of disease pressure is increasing so be sure to ask about our fungicide options available at all agronomy locations. I recommend using a 3-mode-of-action product like Delaro Complete. This is a preventive and curative option during grain fill as it moves systemically through the plant profile. Fungicides can increase yield by preventing disease in the crop canopy and help make it through the heat and dry weather by providing plant health. Be sure to contact your local agronomist and we can get you taken care of.

The companies that Central Farmers Coop partner with are committed to maintaining the highest standards of efficiency, reliability, and safety and one of the key technologies they use to achieve that is “smart pigging.” Despite the funny name, smart pigs are serious business. These high-tech tools are designed to travel through pipelines, gathering data about the condition of the interior walls.

Early Detection, Proactive Maintenance
Smart pigs are equipped with sensors that detect corrosion, cracks, and deformations inside pipelines. This approach reduces unexpected shutdowns and saves on emergency repair costs. The smart pig travel at 1.5 miles per hour.

Meeting Safety and Regulatory Standards
Pipeline safety regulations are becoming increasingly strict and rightly so. Smart pigging plays a critical role in maintaining industry and federal standards. It’s not just about avoiding fines; it’s about doing the right thing for communities.

Investing in Smart Technology = Long-Term Savings
While smart pigging does come with an upfront cost, studies show that the long-term savings are substantial. Preventing even one major pipeline failure can offset the investment many times over.

After reading Gerry Crawford’s article about how South Dakota gets supplied with propane and fuel I thought it would be good to tell you all about how the companies do maintenance on pipelines that run in our back yards.

Last of all, I thank you for your business and wish everyone a great summer.

Over the past 24 hours the market has received some rumors about a possible Chinese trade deal. Beans and corn are rallying off that news, but a little more subdued today. Long holiday weekends this time of year can be very volatile. If we strike a deal fully, I expect cash beans to get to $10 quickly. After that there is no resistance on the charts which can make it very hard to determine where offers should be.

Both corn and bean crops across the country look very good for this time of year. July weather as we all know can swing it one way or the other, but for now I’m giving the local crop here a good chance of being on the bigger side.

Keep looking at making offers and hedging on rallies. With the increase in corn acres across the state and potentially good yield, I expect space to be at a premium this fall. Our offer tool through Barchart makes inputting and tracking your offers very easy. A few clicks and you have something working. The volatility of these markets is going to make it very hard to make timely sales.

If we see a further rally in these markets, we’ll be calling out to our customers and presenting some opportunities next week. Don’t hesitate to ask questions.