CBOT futures closed lower with wheat and soybeans closing near the day’s lows. Corn traded narrow ranges while soybean futures dropped to new lows for this down move that started in February. Traders prepared for tomorrow’s USDA reports.  Cattle futures closed moderately lower with the trend returning downward after yesterday’s one-day bounce.

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A feature story with Danny VanMeter, a Grayson County leader in strawberry production.  He says interest in strawberry production is on the rise.  He says spending nights in the field, protecting the crop from freezes like the one last month are just one of the challenges; but he feels a growing number of producers could find the crop very rewarding. 

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It was the warmest end of winter that UK Horticulturist, John Strang, has ever seen; and then came the mid-March freeze.  All in all, peaches took a major hit in some regions, but damage to other fruits could have been far, far worse.  

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There’s a 2018 Farm Bill planning session scheduled for April 10 at Hopkinsville Community College, and a guest speaker will be Kentucky’s new 1^st district congressman, James Comer, a member of the House Ag Committee.  Ky Farm Bureau’s Joe Cain discusses some of the various elements of this federal safety net for the nation’s farmers.

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A case of low pathogen avian influenza has turned up in western Kentucky.  Ky Ag Department State Veterinarian, Bob Stout says it may have arrived via migrating wild fowl, and efforts are now underway to contain the occurrence. He encourages all poultry producers to take all bio-security measures on their farms to prevent any further outbreak.

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Part of the Kentucky Forest Industries Association annual meeting this week in Lexington will be a major focus on white oak production.  UK forester, Jeff Stringer, says there’s high demand from both the bourbon and wine industries, and industry officials want to make sure this valuable crop is handled sustainably for its long term value to Kentucky.

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CBOT futures had another day of small price changes as traders are focused on Friday’s USDA reports. Large crops in South America and the bearish bias of the spec funds should cap futures until new fundamentals appear.  Cattle futures closed higher on short-covering.