U.S. corn and soybean planting continued to churn along ahead of the average pace this past week.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report showed nationwide corn planting at 38% complete as of Sunday, up 13 points on the week. That’s on par with the previous week but 4 points ahead of the five-year average. Meanwhile, national soybean planting reached 33% complete as of Sunday, an increase of 10 points on the week and ahead of 28% last year and 23% on average.
Producers in Iowa made especially good progress in the fields after a slow start. Corn planting in the state jumped 20 points from the previous week to 42% complete as of Sunday, although that remains behind 47% last year and 44% on average. Soybean planting gained 16 points to 27% done, but still also behind 36% last year and 29% on average.
In Illinois, corn planting gained 9 points to 38% complete, 2 points ahead of the average, while soybean planting in the state climbed 10 points to 46% done, versus only 32% on average. The Indiana corn crop was 42% planted as of Sunday, an increase of 12 points on the week and 20 points ahead of normal. Soybean planting in Indiana was up 9 points to 44% done, far ahead of 19% on average.
At 33% done, Ohio corn planting was up 13 points on the week and 18 points ahead of average, while soybeans were 30% complete – up from 19% a week earlier and 14% on average.
Michigan remained a key area of concern, with corn planting inching up to just 5% from 3% the week prior and soybeans unchanged at 3%. Both crops remain well behind their respective five-year averages of 14% for corn and 15% for soybeans, underscoring the impact of persistent cool temperatures and excess moisture on early-season progress.
North Dakota corn planting is also advancing slowly, with just 4% of the crop in the ground, compared to 16% last year and 9% on average. Soybean planting in North Dakota was just 2% done as of Sunday, behind 9% last year but close to the average of 3%.
Across the country, 13% of the corn crop was emerged as of Sunday, up 6 points on the week, and ahead of 10% last year and 9% on average. The soybean crop was 13% emerged, versus 8% a week earlier, 6% last year and 5% on average.
According to World Weather Inc., favourable planting conditions prevailed across much of the Midwest over the weekend, with only light rainfall and minimal crop damage from widespread frost. Looking ahead, periodic rains over the next two weeks may slow fieldwork at times but should still allow overall planting progress.
