It’s been a wet week in much of the Midwest, but that hasn’t totally derailed corn planting progress yet. After big-time strides in the last 10 days of April, the new month is starting with the majority of the crop in the ground, according to Monday’s USDA-NASS Crop Progress report.
As of Sunday, 68% of the country’s corn crop has been planted, USDA numbers show. That’s up from 50% a week ago and still 28% ahead of the normal pace for this week of the year. Though progress was slowed from the previous week, most states saw a double-digit planting improvement over the last 7 days. The sharpest progess contrast comes in Illinois: A year ago, 5% of that state’s corn crop was in the ground versus 87% planted as of Sunday.
"As we enter the first week of May, we only have 100 acres of corn left to plant. We also hope to get our soybeans planted this week," Mt. Pulaski, Illinois, farmer and Agriculture.com Crop Tech Tour correspondent Doug Martin said over the weekend
