Special Report

91% of U.S. corn, 57% of soybeans planted

According to USDA, U.S. corn and soybean planting rates improved last week, but corn was hampered by another round of heavy rains and both crops remain behind average.

As of Sunday, 91% of corn is planted, compared to 86% a week ago, 100% a year ago and the five year average of 95%, and 74% has emerged, compared to 96% last year and 82% on average. In the first rating of the season, 63% of corn is in good to excellent condition, compared to 72% a year ago.

57% of soybeans are planted, compared to 44% last week, 93% last year and 74% on average, and 31% has emerged, compared to 76% a year ago and 49% on average.

32% of winter wheat is in good to excellent shape and 43% is called poor to very poor, both up 1% on the week, and 73% of winter wheat has headed, compared to 88% last year and 80% on average.

80% of spring wheat is planted, compared to 100% a year ago and 92% on average, and 61% has emerged, compared to 99% last year and 80% on average. 64% of spring wheat is rated good to excellent, compared to 78% a year ago.

46% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are in good to excellent condition, a 4% week to week increase.