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Major Driver – El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Corn and soybean planting began very
early this year and progressed at a near record pace thanks to record warmth across the central
U.S.Corn and soybean planting progressed well ahead of the 5 year average and much faster than last
year?s pace, when heavy spring rains and melting snow cover slowed planting in the northern Plains
and Ohio ValleyCropCAST expects planted acreage for corn to increase from USDA?s March report, but
soybean acreage to be near or slightly below USDA?s March estimate.