News

Weather delays corn, spring wheat planting

U.S. corn planting is a little slower than normal. That follows a late week shift to wetter, cooler conditions in many key U.S. growing areas, including a winter-like storm that dropped several inches of snow from Colorado to Wisconsin. As of Sunday, 3% of the crop is planted, compared to 3% a year ago and the five year-average of 5%.

That storm also affected spring wheat planting, with 2% of the crop sown, compared to 3% last year and the usual pace of 13%.

6% of winter wheat has headed, compared to 8% a year ago and 9% on average, and 60% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, steady with the previous week. This time last year, 31% of the crop was rated good to excellent. Hard red winter conditions are generally better than soft red winter.

About a third of U.S. soil has surplus moisture levels.