Spring Planting Progress Off To A Good Start
Crop Progress 04/02/24
It's officially spring and many growers are gearing up to begin planting. But as most of the U.S. isn't quite ready to put seed in the ground, one state is already off to the races.
According to USDA's first weekly crop progress report of the season, Texas has already completed planting on 57% of corn acres.
Some growers in the state even report having completed their farm's corn planting for the year.
Central Texas corn planting is in the books! #plant24 #JohnDeere #Dekalb #Pioneer #stillworkin #Melde™️ pic.twitter.com/qfw39Ye2KJ — Denim Dyl (@Yo_Melde) March 8, 2024
Other states sharing corn planting progress include Illinois (1%), Kansas (2%), Kentucky (2%), Missouri (2%) and Tennessee (2%). Overall, the U.S. is 2% done planting corn acres — slightly ahead of the five-year-average of 1%.
One of the Illinois farmers already making progress shares his views from the field.
It’s time 🌱🌽 #plant24 pic.twitter.com/pBj86qODSj — Dana (@deholmes_16) March 29, 2024
At the same time, another grower in Illinois reports much of his region is doing tillage in preparation for the main event.
Lots of tillage in central IL prepping for #plant24 and a little purple cover crop termination #HappyEaster pic.twitter.com/LNwkmp6QBW — Kent Klingbeil (@klingbeil_ISU) March 31, 2024
Though it would delay getting in the field, many states are in need of rain before making more progress.
60 day % of normal rainfall.
Depends on where you’re at Ofcourse but several corn belt counties could use rain. #AGwx #plant24 https://t.co/p4PKRYOqYf pic.twitter.com/PEYaM0TZPv — BAM Weather (BAMWX) (@bamwxcom) March 28, 2024
This Kentucky farmer shares a look at some of those dry conditions.
It’s GO TIME! #plant24 #dusty #alreadyneedarain 🤦🏻♂️#kyag365 #johndeere #tillage #notillnoskill pic.twitter.com/epC0z2Zi5E — Kyle Zarate (@KZarate1081) April 1, 2024
Luckily, there's good news in the forecast with significant rain ahead for a large part of the Corn Belt.
You’re reading these totals correctly.
High likelihood of a deluge of 💦 Sun thru Wed this week, a result of a stalled out warm front for days.
Shouldn’t be any #drought / dry soil talk around these parts for some time going forward now.#ILwx #INwx #OHwx #AGwx #Plant24 #OATT pic.twitter.com/SPsdzKRn9b — Kirk 🇺🇸 Hinz | BAM ⚡️Weather (@Met_khinz) March 30, 2024