It’s been a miserable planting season for New York farmers, and with continued rainy and cold weather there could be a lot of prevented planting acres this year.

Only 5% of the state’s corn has been planted, according to the most recent National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Progress Report. That’s well-behind last year’s pace of 37% and the five-year average of 39% for this time of year.

“Persistent rain has prohibited most field work despite a day or two of sunny weather; soil is still saturated, and the forecast does not look forgiving for the coming week,” writes Ellen deMey, a crops reporter in Oswego County.

“Conditions remain wet and fields are soft with wet areas,” writes Mariane Kiraly, crops reporter in Delaware County. “Grass is ready to mow when we get drier weather. Some farmers are planting corn around wet holes and/or have procured earlier season varieties.”

David Holck, county executive director of FSA for Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties, says some farmers are already switching to shorter-season corn.

“Very little corn has been planted compared to normal,” Holck says. “A local TV weather report said that there had been measurable rain in 30 out of 56 days this spring.”

Most places have gotten between 5 and 8 inches of rain over the past 30 days, well-above normal for this time of year. Couple that with cooler-than-normal temperatures and it’s made getting into fields nearly impossible in parts of New York.

WET MAY: Up to 8 inches of rain have fallen in many parts of the region, well-above normal for this time of year.

Only 6% of corn has been planted in New England, well-behind last year’s pace of 45% and the five-year average of 34%. Other significant crops such as potatoes, 20% planted, and sweet corn, 16% planted, are also behind their five-year averages.

Catching up in other places

Pennsylvania farmers are still behind in planting corn, but nicer weather has allowed some to catch up.

The report states that 42% of corn is in the ground. That’s still behind the five-year average of 55% but up 20% from last week. Corn emerged is 18%, behind the five-year average of 26%.

Soybeans planted are at 12%, behind the five-year average of 27%.

Apples and peaches are ahead of their five-year averages as are oats.

Jeff Graybill, Extension educator in Lancaster County, says early corn and soybeans in Lancaster County are just about planted.

“There is still a lot of forage to chop in some areas (wheat and triticale) which will have manure applied and then corn planted,” he says. “The tobacco guys are in full swing this week. We might have 20% of the tobacco in the ground by the end of the week.”

In Maryland, 71% of corn is planted, which is slightly ahead of the five-year average. Corn emerged is 58%, ahead of the 39% average.

Soybeans are 31% planted, ahead of the 17% average.

Most apples and peaches have reached full bloom. Tomatoes are 43% planted, just ahead of the 37% average. Strawberries are 72% full bloom, behind last year’s pace of 92%.

MAKING PROGRESS: Drew Haines, a farmer in Frederick County, Md., got his corn in on April 29. Maryland and Delaware farmers are making progress with their corn and soybean plantings.

Soybeans are faring better than corn in Delaware. Corn is 73% planted, behind the average 77%, while soybeans are 25% planted, ahead of the average 17%.

Corn emerged is 46%, which is about average.

Fruits and vegetables are a mixed bag. While apples and peaches are right around average for this time of year, strawberries, 44% planted, and watermelons, 11% planted, are well-behind their average for this time of year.

Sweet corn is 26% planted, behind the average 40%. Tomatoes are 38% planted, slightly behind the 41% average. Snap beans are 25% planted, ahead of the 17% average.

New Jersey farmers are also getting caught up, though it’s been a slow-pace growing season.

Corn is 32% planted, between the average 55%. Ten-percent of the crop has emerged. Soybeans are 11% planted.

Other crops such as apples, bell peppers, sweet corn and tomatoes are about average plantings for this time of year.