Farmers Closing in on Corn Planting

By: Sara Schafer

Major planting progress was made in many key corn states during the past week. As of May 22, 79% of the U.S. corn crop is in the ground. This compares to a five-year average of 87% for this point in the season.

Ten of the 18 corn states that planted 92% of the 2010 U.S. corn acreage has passed the 80% planted mark.

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Several states are still way behind average. Ohio only has 11% of its corn crop planted, which compares to the normal 74% planted by this time. Indiana, Pennsylvania and North Dakota have just under are under 50% planted this year, normally these states would be around 75% planted by this time.

Overall corn emergence went from around 20% emerged as of May 15 to 45% emerged by May 22. The five-year average for corn emergence by this time is 59%.

See the “Corn Planting Progress” reports.

 

Soybean Planting Progress Passes 40%

As of May 22, 41% of the country’s soybeans are in the ground. The five-year average for this time is 51%.

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Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Nebraska are all at a normal pace or exceeding the average of beans planted by this time.

Ohio has 4% of the 2011 crop planted, a staggering drop from the five-year average of 54%. North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin are also all well behind their normal planting progress.

See the “Soybean Planting Progress” reports.

 

Cotton, Sorghum and Rice Planting on Track

As of this week, 57% of the U.S. cotton crop is planted. Normally just over 60% of the crop is planted by this time. Farmers in Arizona, California, Louisiana and Virginia all have more than 90% of their crops in the ground.

See the “Cotton Planting Progress” report.

The U.S. sorghum crop is on pace to be planted at a normal rate. The five-year average for this time is 40%, which is also the current planting progress.

States such as Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana are more than 70% planted, while South Dakota, Colorado and Illinois are around the 10% planted mark.

See the “Sorghum Planting Progress” report.

Of the six major rice-growing states, all but one has more than 70% of their crops in the ground. Missouri is the only state lagging behind with 53% planted, likely due to the major flooding earlier this spring in the rice-growing areas of the state.

Currently, 84% of the U.S. crop is planted, which is only slightly behind the five-year average of 90%.

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