Interstate corn sown last week but rains limit pace again
MOST of the US CropWatch producers returned to planting corn and soybeans last week after a widespread standstill in the prior week, though that activity was largely confined to the weekend due to wet midweek weather.

Four of the 11 producers reported zero-to-one day of field work last week, and at least four others ran between two and three days. Some were able to make the most of the couple available days, as both Iowa producers reported activity that was fast and even “frantic” over the weekend.

Almost all Crop Watch growers are a bit uneasy at the forecast for scattered rains this week, because although the amounts should not be huge, most locations need drying time aside from Kansas, where more moisture would be welcome.

Four of the 22 subject fields (corn in eastern Iowa, western Iowa, and western Illinois; soybeans in eastern Iowa) were sown within the last week. Only two had been sown in the prior week.

The North Dakota corn plant was in progress on Monday, the second-earliest plant date in seven years for that field following May 7, 2021, which preceded a widespread summer drought in the state.

The producer reported a lot of field work in the area over the last four days with a focus on small grains and corn.

Crop Watch follows 11 corn and 11 soybean fields across nine US states, including two each in Iowa and Illinois. This is the seventh year of the project and the fourth with the 11-producer version.

Sixteen of the 22 fields have been planted as of Monday including the North Dakota corn, behind 19 on the same date in 2021 and 2023 but ahead of the 2022 pace of 14. For corn, only the Ohio field awaits planting.

The remaining five fields are soybeans, and at least two of them could be started by late week.

US forecasters as of early Monday predicted the week’s heaviest rains could stretch from eastern Kansas through Ohio with totals between one and two inches, though the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains should mostly observe amounts below one inch.

Widespread wet weather could return across the Corn Belt next week.

The US Department of Agriculture on Monday afternoon will publish planting progress as of May 12. The five-year average for corn is 54%, 10-year is 60%, and the five-year-average weekly gain is 15 percentage points. Corn was 36% planted on May 5, and analysts peg May 12 pace at 49%.

For soybeans, the five-year May 12 pace is 34%, the 10-year is 32%, and the five-year-average weekly gain is 13 percentage points. Beans were 25% planted on May 5, and analysts peg May 12 pace at 39%. — Reuters

Karen Braun is a market analyst for Reuters. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
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Most of the US CropWatch producers returned to planting corn and soybeans last week after a widespread standstill in the prior week, though that activity was largely confined to the weekend due to wet midweek weather.