Corn Planting Progress
There has been variable progress in corn planting across the U.S. Some farmers have reached or surpassed their previous five-year averages, while others remain behind while they wait out recent wet weather.
According to Successful Farming’s, Agriculture Online, that’s the verdict in Monday’s weekly USDA Crop Weather report. Overall, 33% of the nation’s corn was in the ground as of Sunday, up 11% from the previous week and almost 10% above where it was a year ago. But, it’s still behind the 50% previous five-year average, according to Monday’s numbers.
The progress was widely variable for the second week: Iowa farmers made decent strides, with 60% of that state’s crop in the ground as of Sunday versus 47% a week ago. The story’s different one state to the east, where Illinois farmers have barely begun planting, with 5% of the corn planted. That’s more than 60% behind the previous five-year average pace.
May 8th, 2009 at 7:45 am
In northwest Ohio we have been having enough rain to keep us out of the fields. We get 3-4 days of wet weather followed by 3-4 days of dry weather. Some corn & soybeans has been planted. Not many farmers reporting significant acres of either planted yet to date. Some Processing tomatoes & cabbage planted, but those acres are behind schedules also! I have not seen any grain crops that were planted emerged yet. Good thing as they are calling for possible frost on 5/11!
May 12th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Central Illinois has been wet and so slow going. We are hoping to take advantage of a brief window of sunshine this week…before next downpour.
High winds have helped things dry out a bit.