U.S. corn and soybean planting continued to churn along ahead of the average pace this past week.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report showed nationwide corn planting at 38% complete as of Sunday, up 13 points on the week. That’s on par with the previous week but 4 points ahead of the five-year average. Meanwhile, national soybean planting reached 33% complete as of Sunday, an increase of 10 points on the week and ahead of 28% last year and 23% on average.
Producers in Iowa made especially good progress in the fields after a slow start. Corn planting in the state jumped 20 points from the previous week to 42% complete as of Sunday, although that remains behind 47% last year and 44% on average. Soybean planting gained 16 points to 27% done, but still also behind 36% last year and 29% on average.
In Illinois, corn planting gained 9 points to 38% complete, 2 points ahead of the average, while soybean planting in the state climbed 10 points to 46% done, versus only 32% on average. The Indiana corn crop was 42% planted as of Sunday, an increase of 12 points on the week and 20 points ahead of normal. Soybean planting in Indiana was up 9 points to 44% done, far ahead of 19% on average.
At 33% done, Ohio corn planting was up 13 points on the week and 18 points ahead of average, while soybeans were 30% complete – up from 19% a week earlier and 14% on average.
Michigan remained a key area of concern, with corn planting inching up to just 5% from 3% the week prior and soybeans unchanged at 3%. Both crops remain well behind their respective five-year averages of 14% for corn and 15% for soybeans, underscoring the impact of persistent cool temperatures and excess moisture on early-season progress.
North Dakota corn planting is also advancing slowly, with just 4% of the crop in the ground, compared to 16% last year and 9% on average. Soybean planting in North Dakota was just 2% done as of Sunday, behind 9% last year but close to the average of 3%.
Across the country, 13% of the corn crop was emerged as of Sunday, up 6 points on the week, and ahead of 10% last year and 9% on average. The soybean crop was 13% emerged, versus 8% a week earlier, 6% last year and 5% on average.
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