Planting Makes Some Progress

Last week, the planting prognosis was pretty bleak, but a week of better weather in some areas allowed farmers to make significant headway in the fields.

The latest crop progress report from USDA has 40 percent of the corn crop planted – half of what it was at this time last year and nearly 20 percent less than the 5-year average. Missouri and Nebraska moved up significantly to be pretty close to average now at 59 and 57 percent planted, but Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota and Ohio are still in the single digits when they should be at or near the halfway point by now.

The slow planting progress and continued wet weather in many areas are causing concerns about the impact on both yield and acreage. However, as National Corn Growers Association First Vice President Garry Niemeyer of Illinois points out, planting dates alone do not determine how successful a crop growers have. “There are still several months of growing time for our crops,” Niemeyer said. “The expected increase in corn acreage strengthens our expectation of being able to meet all needs for food, feed and fuel come the fall harvest.”

It’s not clear yet how much of the 130,000 flooded acres in southeast Missouri were expected to be planted to corn, but USDA will release its first monthly estimate of yield, supply and demand for the crop now being planted on Wednesday.