Planters Pick Up Pace, But Corn Still 18% and Soybeans 9% Behind Average
U.S. corn planted acres doubled last week, going from 22% planted on May 8 to 49% planted as of May 15, according to USDA. Yet, that is still significantly below the five-year average of 67%. Last year 94% of corn was planted by mid-May.
North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa are the most behind in planting versus each state’s average pace. Only Texas and North Carolina are ahead of schedule, with Tennessee and Pennsylvania showing an average planting pace.
So far 14% of the U.S. corn crop has emerged, which is well below the five-year average of 32% by mid-May.
For soybeans, 30% of the U.S. crop has been planted. That compares to a five-year average of 39%.
Again, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota are the furthest behind their average planting paces for soybeans. Meanwhile, eight of the top 18 soybean-growing states are ahead of average in soybean planting pace.
As of May 15, 9% of the U.S. soybean crop has emerged, which is only slightly behind the five-year average of 12%.
Only 39% of the U.S. spring wheat crop is in the ground. That marks the slowest planting pace since 2011. The five-year average is 67% by mid-May but last year 83% had been planted. The states furthest behind average include Minnesota and North Dakota, which produce two-thirds of the crop.
As for winter wheat, 48% of the U.S. crop has headed. That compares to an average of 53%. Condition ratings include:
- Very poor: 6%
- Poor: 13%
- Fair: 33%
- Good: 41%
- Excellent: 7%
The Weather Ahead
Most of this week's precipitation pattern is dominated by weaker and more subtle features until Thursday when a deeper trough dives into the Pacific Northwest and sweeps through the Northern Plains and Canadian Prairie, says Eric Snodgrass, principal atmospheric scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions.
“This trough will deliver much cooler air through the Northwest, Central/Northern Plains, Canadian Prairie and Midwest by the end of the week as a large cold front passes through the U.S.,” he says.
The animation below shows the 10-day ECMWF precipitation type and intensity forecast.
“For those who got a lot of planting done these rains will be well timed on the newly planted crops,” Snodgrass says. “Multiple chances for storms will make planting windows very tight for many throughout the Corn Belt.”
As for temperatures, Snodgrass says several regions in the Northwest and northern Midwest are expecting a temperature at or below 32°F this week (shaded in gray).
Meanwhile, high temperatures this week in Texas will be in the upper-90s and low-100s as much cooler air advances across the northern tier or the U.S. later this week.
How is your planting season going? Have your crops emerged? Share your crop report with AgWeb’s Crop Comments.
Read More
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Can U.S. Farmers Still Hit a Record Corn Yield?
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