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Agriculture Outlook

Cold temperatures in the Northern part of the United States could impact the corn crop.

"If that continues it could lead to increase in corn prices if we happen to have a lower corn crop this year, increase feed costs, costs at the grocery store, that kind of thing,” Corey Owens, Senior Instructor and Research Associate in the Department of Agriculture at Angelo State University said.

Owens says, it too soon to predict that price increase yet, but if the northern states continue to see blizzards instead of sunshine, that could be the case.

"Not only air temperatures but soil temperatures which is going to impact when they can get the corn in the ground,” Owens said.

Those freezes put the u-s behind in the planting schedule.

"About 13 percent of the corn is usually in the ground by this time and it's about 5 percent right now,” Owens said.

Meanwhile, back in the Lone Star State, the Texas Farm Bureau says that oil, soybean, wheat usage are expected to be up this year. And soybean exports are expected to rise significantly. The USDA says despite the weather, farmers can make up some of that time by planting before mid-May.

"Farmers will be very efficient when it comes to getting the corn in the ground so hopefully it won't have a major impact on the end product,” Owens said.

Cotton, a staple crop for Texas, did produce a larger yield in 2017 and even though farmers just finished ginning, it's almost time for them to start planting again.

As for livestock producers up North, the fluctuating temperatures could mean disease and illness for their herds. Those temps could also affect the feeding programs and schedules. Further South, Oklahoma and Kansas have been struggling with wildfires. Recent fires have left 2,000 head of livestock dead. But, the Ag community is sticking together, delivering hay and supplies to our neighbors.

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