Corn and soybean planting is behind the four year average and even down from last year. However, that’s probably not a surprise for most farmers, especially in the Midwest considering the soil was covered in snow just a couple of weeks ago. 

Corn planted

The crop progress report shows producers are ready to go, it’s just a matter of soil conditions and weather suitable to get into the fields. This week’s report shows 17% of the nation’s corn crop has been planted. That’s down from last year’s 32% and the four-year average of 27%

Illinois farmers are leading the the I-states pack in the Midwest with 32% planting complete and Iowa reports 17% finished. Meanwhile Indiana only has 8% complete. The upper Midwest remains dormant, with Michigan and Wisconsin producers were able to get 3% of the corn into the ground in the past week, while North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota report zero planting complete. Still tough out east as well, with Ohio and Pennsylvania farmers only able to get 1% of the crop in the ground.

Corn emerged

In 2017, the nation had 8% of the corn crop emerging. This year, 3% of the corn planted has emerged. That’s down from the four-year average of 6%.

Very few states have any corn emerging yet, even in the high plains, southern and eastern states of Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. No Midwest states report having any corn emerging yet.

Soybeans planted

Soybean planting is behind 2017 levels but not the four-year average. Crop progress report shows 5% of the soybeans have been planted so far this season, right on target with the four-year average. Last year, producers had 9% of the crop completed.

Illinois farmers have 7% of soybeans in the ground, with Nebraska next at 6% . Indiana and Iowa producers have 3% planted. Meanwhile, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas and Tennessee have between 1 and 2% completed. Further south, Louisiana farmers have 40% planted, followed by Mississippi (35%) and Arkansas (26%).