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Planting progress remains at a record low

USDA’s meteorologist says corn planting progress continues to be slowest on record after storms throughout the Plains and Midwest continued to halt fieldwork last week.

Brad Rippey says as of Sunday, 58 percent of corn was planted, more than 30 percent behind last year and the five-year national average.

“It’s very similarly bad when you look at the planting situation for beans, 29 percent planted by May 26, the five-year average is 66 percent.  Last year at this time, we were ahead of that at 74 percent planted.”

This year is the second slowest soybean planting on record.

National sugarbeet planting is nearly complete. “Michigan is the state with the most outstanding acreage, 90 percent planted on May 26, eight points behind the five-year average.”       

Rippey says winter wheat condition continues to decline in wet areas and progress also remains behind