June 3, 2008

US corn farmers may replant as cool temperatures damage crops

US farmers are looking on replanting corn after cool temperatures and rainstorms damaged more crops than usual, agronomists and grain dealers said.

In Illinois, the second-largest corn producing state, farmers have to replant about 1 to 2 percent of the corn acreage in a typical year.

This year, analysts estimate that farmers will replant 4 to 5 percent of the corn acres.

Replanting can often lead to severe crop losses as corn that is planted late in the year often is still in a vulnerable state when hot summer temperatures arrive.

Yet US farmers, who typically aim to have corn planting finished by the middle of May, have few options at this point, observers said.

The USDA is scheduled to release its first corn ratings of the season, which will show how the cold and wet weather has affected the early development of the crop.

Traders expect the ratings to show that corn is in much worse shape than a year ago, when 78 percent of the crop was rated good to excellent.

A week ago, the USDA projected corn emergence at 52 percent, below the five-year average of 76 percent.