Corn and Soybean Plantings Now at Last Year’s Pace

USDA is reporting that planted acres for both corn and soybeans are at the 2016 levels and field progress is at about the 5-year average.

As of Sunday, 84% of corn acres are in the ground and 54% have emerged. The planting pace for corn matches last year and is only 1% behind the 5-year average. Despite cool and wet weather, farmers were able to get in about 13% of their corn acres in last week.

The 54% of acres emerged is 4% behind last for this date, up 13% compared to last week and 1% behind the 5-year average.

Soybeans also had a good week for planting levels. The 53% in the ground as of May 21 matches last year’s planting pace and is 1% ahead of the 5-year average. Farmers managed to get 21% of the soybean crop in the ground last week alone.