American producers have planted 84 percent of the national corn crop, according to the USDA

Many states are close to finishing corn planting

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Farmers across the United States have planted 84 percent of the national corn crop, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin for the week of May 14 to 20.

That number is down slightly from the 85 percent five-year average.

On a state level, producers in North Carolina lead the country with 96 percent of their corn planted, which is down 1 percent from the five-year average.

Farmers in Tennessee, Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa all have planted more than 90 percent of their corn.

54 percent of the total corn crop has emerged, according to the USDA report. This figure is down from a five-year average of 55 percent.

North Carolina has the highest recorded corn emergence at 92 percent, up 3 percent from the state’s five-year average.

Soybeans
53 percent of American soybeans have been planted, according to the report.

Louisiana leads the U.S. in planting (91 percent) and emergence (84 percent). Both numbers are above the state’s five-year averages of 80 and 65 percent, respectively.

Mississippi has planted 86 percent of its soybeans and 77 percent of the state’s crop emerged.

Winter Wheat
Across the country, 72 percent of the winter wheat crop has headed, according to the USDA. That number is up from the five-year average of 67 percent.

Arkansas, California and North Carolina all reported 100 percent of their winter wheat has headed.

Oklahoma and Texas reported 98 percent headed.

Oregon leads the U.S. when it comes to the crop’s condition, with 23 percent ranked as “excellent.”

California and Idaho each reported 20 percent of the winter wheat crop as “excellent.”

Spring Wheat
Nationally, farmers have planted 90 percent of the U.S. spring wheat crop, says the USDA.

That number is up from the five-year average of 84 percent.

Minnesota, South Dakota and Washington all reported at least 95 percent of their spring wheat is planted.

With respect to emergence, 62 percent of the total crop has emerged, up from the five-year average of 59 percent.

Fieldwork Days
The top states, in terms of days suitable for field work as of May 20, were:

1)    Arizona – 7

2)    California – 6.9

3)    Florida, South Carolina and New Mexico – 6.6

4)    New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland – 6.5

The states with the fewest number of suitable workdays were:

1)    Kansas – 2.9

2)    Wisconsin – 2.6

3)    Minnesota – 2.5

4)    Iowa – 2.3

5)    Nebraska – 2.1

Weekly Precipitation Levels as of May 20

The next Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin is scheduled for release on Tuesday, May 30.