b'Concerns from Customers This SummerSummertime brings a busy season for growersheres what your customer might be thinking about.Ally RodenTHE MIND OF Afarmer revolves around more than justby India on exports. The ban is a result of domestic food secu-planting, fertilizing and spraying their crops. Increasedrity concerns from a smaller than expected wheat harvest that production costs, supply chain disruptions and global conflictscame in at 10-15% lower than the 2021 record.greatly impact various factors that determine a farmers suc- Between them, Ukraine and Russia produce almost a third cess each season. It is necessary for seed experts to be aware ofof the worlds wheat and barley and half of its sunflower oil. challenges across the world that will inevitably impact the crop.Russia and Belarus are the worlds number two and three pro-Here are the agricultural highlights for the months of May andducers of potash, a key ingredient of fertilizer, shared a news June 2022. release from the United Nations (UN).Wheat prices have soared upwards of 60% this year, with Crop Progressfutures traded in Chicago reaching 5.9% to $12.47 per bushel. May kicked off with corn planted at 14% and 3% emerged,This is the highest level in two months, according to Farm shared the May 2 USDA Crop Progress Report. The previousPolicy News research titled Fertilizer Inventories Climb, five-year average was 33% for corn planted and 6% for cornWholesale Prices Declining.emerged. This ban added even more stress on wheat production Soybeans planted came in at 8%, compared to the 13% with the impacts of the war on Ukraine and extreme weather previous five-year average. Spring wheat planted was 19% andat the forefront of farmers minds.5% had emerged, with the previous average landing at 28%Overall, global exporter quotes continued to escalate planted and 7% emerged. over the past month as weather concerns persisted across The final progress report for the two-month period, releasedthe Northern Hemisphere and as the ongoing war in Ukraine on June 27, showed that 92% of the 2021 corn acreage wasaffected Black Sea shipmentsU.S. quotes increased $32/planted this year. Farmers planted 96% of the 2021 soybean acre- ton as wet weather delayed spring wheat plantings and dry age and 100% of the 2021 spring wheat acreage. weather impacted winter wheat, which is rated just 29% Despite the increase in wheat production in June, the U.S.good/excellent compared to 49% last year, stated the USDAs wheat production is predicted to come in as the second lowestForeign Agricultural Service (FAS) in their Grain: World in 20 years. Markets and Trade report. Russia is projected to be the greatest exporter, USDA says. Global Wheat Prices The European Union is predicted to be the second largest Wheat prices skyrocketed mid-May following the ban imposedexporter due to the crop from France, Romania and Germany.46/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2022'