USDA Crop Progress: Few Corn Acres Planted.

Apr 21, 2014

USDA Crop Progress Report Released.

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProg/CropProg-04-21-2014.pdf

USDA reports that U.S. corn planting showed little progress over the past week, with rain, cooler temperatures, and even snow in some areas, keeping farmers out of the fields.

As of Sunday, 6% of corn is planted, compared to 3% last week, 4% last year and the five year average of 14%.

9% of winter wheat has headed, compared to 17% on average, and 34% of the crop is rated good to excellent, unchanged on the week, but with 1% moving from good to excellent. 33% is called fair, compared to 34% a week ago, and 33% is poor to very poor, compared to 32% last week.

10% of spring wheat is planted, compared to 6% a week ago, 7% a year ago and 19% on average.

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.