Only 2% of 2013 U.S. Corn Planted

Apr 18, 2013

USDA Report Shows 2013 Corn Planting Well Behind 2012 Pace

The most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report shows corn planting is far behind 2012 numbers. Only 2% of 2013’s corn has been planted across 18 states, which represented 92% of the 2012 corn acreage.

This time last year roughly 16% of the corn acreage had been planted. Corn planting has been delayed due to cool soil temperatures. In 2012, Illinois had 38% of its corn planted and the most recent report says that only 1% has been planted this year. Prior to the USDA report, it was projected to be an optimistic outlook regarding 2013 planting.

The report notes that many of the leading corn-growing states have not yet begum planting. Following the report, the National Corn Growers Association said that the slow planting progress isn’t a cause for alarm, especially this early in the season. The association says that the slight delay could still mean a good group for this year.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.