May 15, 2012
Dry US weather hasten corn, soy, wheat planting
US corn, soy and wheat planting began last week as the soils firmed up from drier weather, to support heavy machinery used in fieldwork.
About 87% of the corn crop was seeded as of yesterday, up from 71% a week earlier and 56% a year earlier, the USDA said today in a report. The average for the previous five years is 66%. An estimated 56% of the plants had emerged from the ground, compared with 16% a year earlier, the USDA said.
About 46% of the soy crop was planted, compared with 24% a week earlier and the previous five-year average of 24%, the USDA said.
Planting of the spring-wheat crop rose to 94 completed as of May 13, up from 84% a week earlier, the department said. The average for the date for the previous five years is 64%.
