April saw drier than normal conditions across a large area of the Midwest. RMA continues to monitor planting in this region. Most of the Corn Belt experiencing drought conditions received only light amounts of rain during the past week. A major storm system April 30 and May 1 produced significant rainfalls across Oklahoma and the eastern half of Texas. Little or no precipitation fell across the existing drought and dry regions in the western states during the past week.
Extreme drought remains in western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The RO's are providing current condition reports to the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services on a routine basis. The FCIC Board of Directors has been added to the list of recipients for copies of this report which provides current details on problem areas noted by these offices. Dry conditions, disaster payment linkage, and cotton rate reductions are likely contributors to strong sales. Due to the lack of an adequate price discovery methodology they do not feel they can continue to maintain the offer for fall durum wheat in the two states. An accurate price discovery methodology is necessary in order to provide an accurate calculation of the expected market price at the time of planting and the time of harvest.