Corn planting falls farther behind usual rate | Food and Environment Reporting Network

Slowed by a cold and wet spring, farmers have planted 29 pct of corn land in the 18 major states, 13 points behind the five-year average of 42 pct planted by the first week of May, says the weekly Crop Progress report. A week ago, planting, at 19 pct, was 9 points behind average. If corn is planted after May 20, yields are lower.

Of the five leading states, which grow nearly 60 pct of the crop, Illinois and Nebraska are up to date but Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota are far behind. Iowa, the No 1 state, usually is halfway through planting by this time of the year. Instead, its farmers have planted 23 pct of their corn. Soybean planting also is behind normal a 5 pct planted vs the usual 11 pct.

The winter wheat crop worsened in condition – 38 pct is rated poor or very poor, compared to 34 pct a week ago. Arid, windy weather in the Oklahoma Panhandle produced conditions “similar to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s,” crop scouts said according to Agrimoney. USDA said 73 pct of Oklahoma’s winter wheat was in poor or very poor condition. In Kansas, the No 1 wheat state, 47 pct was poor or very poor.