Top 5 Things to Watch

DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of January 29. Watch for coverage of these and other topics through the week on our subscription platforms as well as on DTNPF.com.

1. Winter roller coaster on track: It will be a cold week in the Plains and Upper Midwest as a visit from the polar vortex comes through North America. January is going to end as it normally would be all month long -- in the freezer, thanks to La Nina. February looks to be below normal for the western half of the country while the east stays warm. This should set the stage for an active storm track through the middle of the country. The arctic front at the leading edge of the polar vortex cold snap will be no different with several periods of precipitation sliding along it as it treks south. The cold won't last long, though, and the continent will get at least a brief break late this week. DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick is watching the next round of cold air entering the west Feb. 6. As always, you can find regular in-depth weather updates in our Ag Weather Forum Blog here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…, as well as see blogs by our other DTNPF writers at https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Baranick's daily global forecast can be found on the Market Weather Outlook video here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

2. Still dry in South America: While most of us will be watching and dealing with U.S. weather fronts, grain traders will be attuned to the south. Will La Nina, weakened but hanging on, continue to deny South American farmers needed rainfall for their developing crops? DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman also reminds us that the Fed could bump the federal funds rate another 0.25% Wednesday.

For more markets-related events that DTN will be watching and reporting on, see Hultman's "What DTN is Watching" section found elsewhere on DTN digital platforms.

3. Back to the Garden: While crop models churn over where the "garden spot" may be in 2023, Progressive Farmer Senior Editor Joel Reichenberger will take us to the Garden State for a visit with the Santini family. The frequent National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) corn yield winners from New Jersey talk about what it's like to push yields and profits in an area where fields are small, spread far apart, and surrounded by lots and lots of nonfarm residents.

4. Cattlemen meet: Cattle producers are gathering in New Orleans for their annual Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show. Progressive Farmer Senior Editor Vicki Myers will be reporting from the event, and DTN Livestock Market Analyst ShayLe Stewart will be on hand to gather the latest market intelligence as we work through winter. You can also come see us at Booth 947; more information on that is here: https://www.dtn.com/…

5. Weed Experts in D.C.: On the crops side, DTN Crops Editor Jason Jenkins will be in Washington, D.C. for the Weed Science Society of America's annual meeting. Hot topics he'll keep tabs on during the event include the EPA's Endangered Species Act workplan, which has implications for future pesticide registration/use; latest public research on cover crops and weed management; and a look at some novel approaches to controlling weeds.

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