US corn planting ahead of last year

The US corn crop was 50% planted in the week ended April 25, well beyond the 20% planted by this time last year and the five-year average of 22% planted by now, according to USDA's weekly crop progress report.

Farmers planted 31% of the crop this past week, as just 19% of the crop was planted a week ago in the 18 states that planted 92% of last year's corn acreage.

Already 7% of the corn crop has emerged, compared to just 2 % by this time last year and the five-year average of 5% emerged by now. Planting was delayed both last year and in 2008 by cold, wet weather.