Very limited showers combined with warmer temperatures across the central and southern Midwest the rest of this week should allow corn planting to increase, says MDA Weather Services.
“The warm and relatively dry pattern in the heart of the Midwest will allow farmers to get into the fields and make significant advancements in planting,” said Don Keeney, Senior Agricultural Meteorologist for MDA Weather Services.
As of Sunday, USDA pegged 3% of the corn crop as planted, in line with the five-year average and one point behind last year. Texas leads the way with 59% of its crop already planted compared to 50% on average. Across the Corn Belt, planting is just getting started. USDA puts Illinois corn planting at 1% complete (5% on average), Kansas at 4% (8%) and Missouri at 5% (12%). Wet soils and a rainy forecast for the Corn Belt will limit corn planting efforts this week.
However, a more active storm track next week may slow progress a bit, says the forecaster. “Rains are expected to increase in the Midwest beginning next week, which will begin to slow fieldwork and planting activities once again,” said Keeney, adding the most notable delays will likely be in the western Midwest.
