Market News & Headlines >> Planting Still Ahead Despite Eastern Lag

Nationwide corn and soybean planting progress remained ahead of the five-year averages last week, but progress continued to lag in the eastern Corn Belt amid wet conditions there. 

USDA pegged U.S. corn planting at 86% complete as of May 22, up 11 percentage points from a week earlier and 1 point ahead of the average pace, but 4 points behind a year earlier. Soybean planting was pegged at 56% complete, up 20 points from a week earlier, on par with a year earlier and 4 points ahead of the average pace.

 An estimated 60% of the U.S. corn crop was emerged, up from 43% a week earlier and the five-year average of 5%, but behind last year’s 69%. Some 22% of the U.S. soybean crop was estimated to be emerged, up from 10% a week earlier and the average pace of 21%, but behind last year’s 27%. 

Both corn and soybean planting continued to lag behind the average pace in the eastern growing states of Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.  

An estimated 62% of Indiana’s corn crop was planted versus a five-year average of 77%, while 51% of Ohio corn acreage was planted versus an average of 66% and 65% of the Michigan crop was planted against an average of 72%.  Crop emergence lagged similarly in Indiana and Ohio, while only 17% of the Michigan crop was emerged, 21 points behind the average pace. 

Only 31% of Indiana soybean acreage had been planted, versus a five-year average of 50%, while just 22% of the Ohio crop had been planted against an average of 46% and 34% of the Michigan crop was in the ground compared with an average of 48%.