May 5, 2004

US Corn Planting 16% Ahead Of 2003

Corn Planting advanced to 63 percent complete, 16 percentage points ahead of last year, and 23 points ahead of normal.  Eighteen percent of the crop had emerged, compared with 10 percent for last year and 11 percent for the 5-year average. 

Planting continued to progress rapidly in the Corn Belt, with mostly dry but cool weather.  Minnesota growers planted 48 percent of their crop during the week, while Iowa producers planted 38 percent.  In the northern and central Great Plains, planting rapidly advanced.  Emergence was ahead of normal in most areas of the Corn Belt, but near normal across the Great Plains.

Soybeans growers had planted 12 percent of the Nation's soybean crop, 3 points ahead of last year and the 5-year average.  Planting had begun in all states. But it was most advanced in Mississippi, where growers had planted 78 percent of their crop, 32 points ahead of normal.  Planting advanced the most during the week in Indiana and Ohio, where farmers planted 15 percent of their crop.  Planting progressed ahead of the normal pace across most of the Corn Belt

For winter wheat, thirty-nine percent of the crop had reached the heading stage, compared with 33 percent for last year and 31 percent for the 5-year average.  Development was most rapid in North Carolina, where 34 percent of the crop entered the heading stage during the week. Heading was also active in the southern half of the Great Plains, advancing 20 points or more in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Crop condition was unchanged nationwide but improved slightly in the Great Plains and declined in the Pacific Northwest.