While farmers overall continue to make decent progress planting 2016 crops, those in the eastern Midwest remain under the gun from a wet, cold spring. But conditions vary widely, with some too dry as well.

A producer in central Ohio reported very little corn in the ground. “What is there has been in two weeks and not up.  Cold weather and wet ground killing us. Rain forecast all week. I don't know of any soybeans planted.”

“Rain, rain and more rain,” commented an Illinois producer.  “What is planted is a mess and most acres are not planted and are beginning to be very weedy.”

Farmers sharing Feedback from the Field rated early corn and soybeans a little better than the previous week.

“Cold and wet,” said another Illinois grower. “A field of corn planted on 4/25 still not up. What corn is up does not have a good color to it. Very few soybeans planted in this area.”

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Despite the challenges, farmers providing Feedback rated early corn and soybeans a little better than the previous week. Still, on average fields were barely in “fair,” or average, shape, though better conditions were seen in the northwest Midwest.

Winter wheat appeared to be faring better, with fields on average close to good condition. That reflects prospects for USDA to report a crop of 1.4 billion bushels nationwide, though our analysis of vegetative health index maps showed some stress developing on parts of the western Plains.

Monday’s Crop Progress report confirmed these anecdotal reports. Though corn planting nationwide was 64%, 14% above the 5-year average, the pace in the eastern Midwest was slower than normal. Forecasts call for more rain this week south of I-80, with at times cold and wet conditions persisting in two-week outlooks.

Feedback from the Field - May 3, 2016 - Growers say wet weather stalls planting

Feedback from the Field - May 2, 2016 - Some crops off to slow start as wet and cold hamper planting