May 10, 2011

US corn planting is progressing

Notable improvement is being made in US corn planting as the planting percentage increased from 13% last week to 40% this week, according to the USDA crop progress report.

However, this is clearly behind last year's pace of 80% and the five-year average of 59%.

Iowa made the largest jump, shooting from 8% on May 1, to 69% on May 8. North Dakota finally started planting, and is 3% completed, compared to a five-year average of 35%. Other states that finally got a jump on planting include Minnesota, going from 1% last week to 28% as of yesterday (May 9); Nebraska went from 15% last week to 57%; and Missouri jumped from 32% on May 1 to 59% yesterday (May 9).

Some corn has emerged, particularly in the south. The overall US average is 7%, compared to 36% last year and a five-year average of 21%. North Carolina leads the pack as 82% of their corn crop emerged while the majority of the Upper Midwest has seen nothing pop through the soil surface yet.

Several states were able to make strong progress in planting soy. In the South, Mississippi and Louisiana have planted the most, at 42% and 67% respectively. Overall, only 7% of the US soy crop has been put in the ground, compared to last year's 28% mark at this time.

There are still some states reporting no beans in the ground. They include Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota and Ohio.