Posts in Weather
Soybeans Firm As Hurricane Ida Damage Raises Supply Concerns

Chicago soybean futures edged higher in hesitant trade on Tuesday after reports that Hurricane Ida damaged U.S. grain export facilities, stoking supply concerns in the world's largest exporter.

Corn fell slightly, still pressured by better than expected U.S. crop conditions that sent prices to a one-week low in the previous session, while wheat was slightly lower.

"Hurricane Ida has done considerable damage in the area around New Orleans and Baton Rouge," said Tobin Gorey, director of agricultural strategy at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "What specific damage has been to U.S. crop export facilities is unclear for now. As is the period of shipping delays."

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Weather, Tradekristen oaks
The Cajun Navy Responds to Hurricane Ida

“I’m sitting here looking out at a lot of the damage, and it’s what you would expect from a Category 4 hurricane: It’s bad,” says Colleen Udell, the president of Cajun Navy Relief. The organization, composed of civilian volunteers who use their personal boats and equipment for rescue during disasters, is one of several groups that have taken on the name “Cajun Navy” since Hurricane Katrina. Now, sixteen years later, they are on the ground (and on the water) responding to those affected by Hurricane Ida.

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Weatherkristen oaks
Hurricane Ida Hits Export Elevator Corridor

Packing 150 mph winds and punishing rains, Hurricane Ida made landfall Sunday, the 16th anniversary of the deadly Hurricane Katrina, leaving all of New Orleans without power.

After crossing the warmest, deepest portion of the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Ida hit the continental United States at Port Fourchon, La., south of New Orleans, at mid-day Sunday as a Category 4 hurricane, the second-highest designation. The storm then moved north into southwestern Mississippi. By Monday morning, Ida was downgraded to a tropical storm as it continued a northward path with winds of about 45 miles per hour.

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Trade, Weatherkristen oaks
Ida's Diesel Price Impacts

Mike Strain, Louisiana's commissioner of agriculture, told DTN agriculture in his state is "working the problem," in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, but he spent most of Monday working without communications until those came online in the mid-afternoon.

"We probably have a million people without power in southeast Louisiana right now," Strain said. "There's a lot of destruction to the transmission lines."

Farmers far outside the direct path of Hurricane Ida could face higher diesel prices as they move into harvest, as well as early shipping challenges, depending on the extent of time oil production and Gulf Coast ports are down.

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Weather, Trade, LDAFkristen oaks
Hurricane Ida Cuts Power to All of New Orleans: Updates

Hurricane Ida crashed into the Louisiana coast as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm on Sunday, the 16th anniversary of Katrina, cutting power for millions and temporarily reversing the flow of the Mississippi River. So far, Ida has caused “catastrophic” wind damage, as well as a life-threatening storm surge, flooding, and heavy rainfall, according to the National Hurricane Center. The full order of damage became apparent on Monday when dawn broke over a blacked-out region. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has declared a presidential major disaster declaration to free up resources for rescue and recovery. Below are updates about Ida’s path and impact.

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Weatherkristen oaks
Hurricane Ida Damages Louisiana Grain Terminal, Disrupts Exports

Hurricane Ida damaged a Louisiana grain export elevator owned by global grain trader Cargill Inc and disrupted export operations at the busiest bulk grain export facilities in the United States on Monday.

Cargill said its Reserve, Louisiana, terminal, one of two the company operates along the Mississippi River near the Gulf of Mexico, "sustained significant damage" from the storm, which roared ashore as a powerful Category 4 hurricane.

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Weatherkristen oaks
New Orleans Sugar Refineries Down From Ida

KANSAS CITY — Two major sugar refineries in the New Orleans area were not operating as of Aug. 30 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which made landfall near the city around midday Aug. 29 as a category 4 storm. The storm was said to be worse in some aspects than Hurricane Katrina 16 years ago.

The ASR Group (Domino) refinery at Chalmette, La., was taken down Friday afternoon, and the Louisiana Sugar Refining, LLC, (LSR) plant at Gramercy, La., was taken down Saturday evening, both as a precaution ahead of the fast-moving storm. As of Monday morning, storm teams still were assessing the situation at both refineries, according to company sources. Indications were both factories were without power. Both refineries are major producers of refined cane sugar sourcing most of their raw sugar supply from Louisiana and Texas, with the ASR plant also utilizing some imported raw sugar. Combined, they produce more than 15% of the total US sugar supply (including carryover, domestic beet and cane sugar and imports).

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Weather, Sugarcanekristen oaks
Hurricane Ida Potential Crop Damage

The cotton crop is in really good shape this year across the Delta and Southeast, with its highest rating in five years.

However, Hurricane Ida is threatening to become a major hurricane that could threaten flood and wind damage in that area by Sunday afternoon into Tuesday.

(To see daily updates from DTN meteorologists and follow the track on Ida, go to www.dtn.com/hurricane-ida)

First, a look at the current crop situation in the area that could potentially be hit.

According to the USDA NASS data, the good-to-excellent rating of 71% for the cotton crop is the highest rating in the past five years. All states in the Delta and Southeast have at least a 70% rating except for Tennessee, which is at 67%.

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Hurricane Ida Makes Landfall in Louisiana on Katrina Anniversary as an Extremely Dangerous Category 4 Storm

Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, early Sunday afternoon as an extremely dangerous, Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

Ida, striking on the 16th anniversary of the historically devastating Hurricane Katrina, tied as the state's most powerful storm ever with Laura from last year and the Last Island Hurricane of 1856.

Landfall is when the eye is halfway over the coast. Extreme winds and surge will accompany the 1 p.m. ET landfall over the next several hours.

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Weatherkristen oaks
When Rain is Not a Good Thing

Water is central to our lives. We pray for rain in droughts and talk about “showers of blessings.” But on the other hand, too much rain can be devastating. Farmers in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana are seeing just how destructive all that moisture can be.

About a month ago, a storm system dumped 15-26 inches of rain in these states in just 48 hours. With so much water in a small amount of time coming after an unusually wet spring, water quickly spilled out of riverbanks and filled ditches. It covered fields and washed away crops. It devastated homes and businesses. As communities come together to recover, many farmers and ranchers will try to salvage whatever crops they can, while for some, the season has been completely washed out.

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