U.S. corn planting has reached the quarter pole, with soybeans close behind.
The weekly USDA crop progress report on Monday showed nationwide corn planting at 25% complete as of Sunday, up 14 points from the previous week and ahead of both last year and the five-year average at 22% and 19%, respectively. Meanwhile, the soybean crop was 23% planted as of Sunday, up from 12% a week earlier and also ahead of last year and the average at 17% and 12%.
Producers in the ‘I’ states made particularly strong progress in both corn and soybeans this past week. Illinois corn planting jumped 16 points on the week to 29% complete, 10 points ahead of the average pace, while soybean planting advanced an identical 16 points to 36% done, compared to just 18% on average.
Indiana corn and soybean planting each gained 16 points on the week, to 30% and 35% done, versus 10% and 8% on average. Iowa corn planting climbed 20 points to 22% done, behind 32% last year but still on par with the state average, while soy planting was up 10 points to 11% complete, behind 23% last year and 13% on average.
On the other hand, Michigan corn planting advanced only 2 points on the week to 3% complete, but still near 5% last year and 4% on average. Michigan soybean planting was 3% done as of Sunday, up from 0% a week earlier and trailing 7% last year and 5% on average.
Corn planting in Ohio added 11 points from a week earlier to 20% complete as of Sunday, comfortably ahead of 7% last year and 6% on average. Soybean planting in the state was 19% done, an increase of 10 points on the week and ahead of 9% last year and 7% on average.
Across the country, corn was 7% emerged as of Sunday, up 3 points on the week and ahead of 5% last year and 4% on average. Soybeans were 8% emerged, versus 2% last year and 1% on average.
