Wet And Cool Equals Slow Corn Planting Start- Hard Red Winter Wheat Shows Stress

Corn planting progress continues to lag according to a report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With nine percent of total corn acres planted by April 19, progress lags behind the five-year average for this point by four percentage points.

 

 

"Planting continues to progress slowly due to wet, cool conditions this year," said National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling. "But, it is important to keep in mind that the season has only begun in many parts of the country. Last year, corn planting started off slowly, and we harvested a record corn crop in the fall. Many opportunities and obstacles still lies ahead as a long growing season has only just entered growers' horizons."

 

Progress surpassed the five-year average in four of the top 18 corn-producing states, with Minnesota surpassing the average planting progress by the largest margin at six percentage points. States in the lower portion of the Corn Belt and south, which would have normally seen the most progress by this point, continue to lag. Corn planting progress in Tennessee remains the furthest behind the average with 37 points fewer acres planted than average. Progress in Kentucky and Missouri also lags more than 20 point behind the five-year average at this point. 

 

Precipitation last week brought some relief to Oklahoma, but winter wheat progress declined in the Panhandle due to limited moisture and effects of the ongoing drought. In the weekly crop progress report from USDA, the state’s wheat crop rated 37 percent good to excellent, 38 percent fair and 25 percent poor to very poor. The crop gained one point in the good to excellent category, while losing one point in the poor to very poor category. Winter wheat jointing reached 95 percent by Sunday. The canola crop was rated 55 percent fair to good with blooming at 88 percent. Seedbed preparation was well underway for row crops. Corn reached 84 percent by week’s end, sorghum was at 57 percent, soybeans 37 percent, cotton was 80 percent and peanut seedbed preparation reached 46 percent complete.

 

Winter wheat progressed in most areas of Texas, however, a lack of moisture combined with warm temperature stressed wheat in the Northern High Plains. In the latest USDA report, the winter wheat crop rated 51 percent good to excellent, 35 percent fair and 14 percent poor to very poor. The crop gained two points in the poor to very poor category and half of the crop has headed. That was well ahead of last year and the five year average. Corn planting was 51 percent complete with 37 percent emerged. Sorghum planting was 46 percent complete and soybeans were 12 percent planted. Grazing was more prevalent as range and pasture conditions improved where precipitation and warmer temperatures occurred.