U.S. Corn Planting Is Officially Behind

(Agriculture.com) –  Rain could slow pace further this week.

The U.S. corn planting pace is officially behind averages, with more rain scheduled to keep Midwest fields damp this week.

As of Sunday, 47% of the U.S. corn crop had been put into the ground vs. a 52% five-year average and a trade expectation of 50%, according to the USDA Crop Progress Report Monday.

The governmental agency noted that Illinois’ corn planting skidded to a near halt, only increasing by 2% from last week going from 63% complete to 65%.

For Iowa, farmers in this state made the biggest leap in a week’s time, going from 28% planted to 52%.

USDA pegged Minnesota’s corn planting completion at 35%, a huge improvement from 12% a week ago. Still, Minnesota farmers remain behind their five-year average of 55%.

For other major corn-producing states, Indiana planting is over the halfway point at 51%, up from 45% last week.

Al Kluis, Kluis Commodities, says today’s report could give the corn market a friendly kick.

“Today’s report is slightly friendly for prices tonight. I expect corn to start out 1¢ to 2¢ higher tonight. And, for soybeans, this report is neutral to slightly friendly for prices tonight. I expect soybeans to start out 1¢ to 3¢ higher tonight,” Kluis stated in a daily note to customers Monday. 

Also, USDA pegged U.S. corn emergence at 15%, below a 19% five-year average.

SOYBEANS

For soybeans, 14% of the the nation’s crop has been planted vs. a 17% five-year average.

USDA pegged Illinois’ soybean planting pace at 14% vs. a 16% five-year average.

In Iowa, the farmers have planted 9% of the crop vs. 14% five-year average.

WHEAT

USDA rated the U.S. winter wheat condition as 53% good/excellent, slightly below a week ago of 54%.