For Corn, Fickle Weather Makes For Uncertain Yields

Abbie Fentress Swanson — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:25:00 +0000

Last year's drought wreaked havoc on farmers' fields in much of the Midwest, cutting crop yields and forcing livestock producers to cull their herds. This spring, the rain that farmers needed so badly in 2012 has finally returned. But maybe too much, and at the wrong time.

It's almost the end of April, which is prime time to plant corn.

Drought Hurts U.S. Grain Exporters, Market Share

Abbie Fentress Swanson — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:52:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And now for today's business bottom line. Last summer's drought has brought bad news this fall - low crop yields, especially of corn; plus higher prices, and a prediction from the Department of Agriculture that corn exports will be at a 40-year low. The U.S. still is the world's biggest supplier of corn. But this year, American exporters won't be quite as dominant as usual, in the global corn market.