b'PLUNGE AHEADAfter the weather battle this spring, seed companies deploy their Plan Bs,or risk management strategies, to ensure a strong 2020 seed crop for farmers.Julie Deering jdeering@issuesink.comU.S. FARMERS TRYINGto plant corn and soybeans in the spring of 2019 felt many things, from angst and anger to helpless and hopeless, from April to June and even into July, as Mother Nature clamped down.Foreshadowed by the wettest winter recorded in the United States and the coldest since 1895, meteorologists knew this would be a tough spring. As the rain came down, compounded by a melting snow pack, the days to plant washed away. As those days became weeks, farmers saw their opportunity to make a profit on already narrow margins go down the drain.Research shows that as planting gets pushed back, yields decline. How much and how fast depends on location. In Missouri, corn yields on average dont start to decline until the first three weeks of May. By June 19, farmers could see as much as a 40% yield loss right out of the gate, according to the University ofUSDA predicts more than 8 million acres of corn will file for prevent plant.Missouris William Wiebold, an Extension agronomist.Last year, 96% of the U.S. corn crop wasWhen we look at dollars, Ive saidcustomers and working with them through planted by June 2; at that time this year,we can have excess of a billion dollars,the challenges, most recently planting.67% was planted, according to the U.S.says Bill Northey, USDA Under SecretaryWeve spent the past several months Department of Agricultures (USDA) Cropfor the Farm Service Agencys Farmworking with customers to make sure Progress report. Soybeans planted by JuneProduction and Conservation department. they have the right product to meet their 2 stood at 39%, whereas last year it wasThe spring of 2019 is one farmers wantneeds, Glenn says. Weve seen a lot of 86% with the four-year average at 79%. to forget, but is one for the books. shifting of maturities, and potentially shif-At the beginning of August, USDAWhile farmers will take a hit this year,ting from corn to beans, and its a con-didnt have the final number of preventthose in the seed business have been dea- tinuation of challenges that we are seeing plant acres, but the expectation is a possi- ling with the same planting struggles to getin the U.S. market from low commodity ble record-breaker with the expectation ofa crop in the ground and wrangling withprices to trade disruptionsthats really 8 million acres for corn and 3 million acreswhat it all means for next years seed crop. put a lot of pressure on our customers.for soybeans. Just as the rain did, preventTop-of-mind for Tim Glenn, CortevaWhen it comes to seed production, plant claims continue to pour in. Agriscience chief commercial officer, isCorteva has a large footprint, and Glenn 12/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2019'