USDA: 86% of corn planted, 51% of soybeans

Date:06-02-2011

U.S. corn and soybean producers had another solid week of planting progress, but the planting and emergence paces both remain quite a bit behind average.

As of Sunday, 86% of corn is planted, compared to 97% a year ago and the five year average of 95%. The pace continues to vary widely by region, from a low of 19% in Ohio to complete in North Carolina. Emergence is at 66%, compared to 83% last year and 78% on average, with that pace also varying widely depending on region. 63% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, compared to 76% this time last year.

51% of soybeans are planted, 20% behind both the year ago pace and the five year average with a low of 7% in Ohio to a high of 90% in Louisiana. 27% of soybeans have emerged, compared to 43% last year and 39% on average.

Winter wheat continues to show the impact of a dry, hot spring for hard red and a wet, cool season for soft red with 33% in good to excellent shape, up 1% from last week but down 32% from a year ago.

Spring wheat planting is slower than normal due to wet, cold conditions in the Northern Plains with 68% of the crop sown, compared to 94% last year and 95% on average. 40% of spring wheat has emerged, compared to 81% for both a year ago and the five year average.

55% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are in good to excellent condition compared to 54% a week ago and 69% a year ago.