May 12, 2010
Early U.S. Crop Conditions by Regions
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
The weekly crop condition reports won't start for a few more weeks, so in the mean time, here are the U.S. crop conditions by region.
Eastern Corn Belt (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan)
- the planting started very early, but progress has slowed due to cooler and wetter conditions
- corn is generally being planted 10-14 days ahead of the normal pace and the soybeans are being planted maybe 7 days ahead of the normal pace
- corn emergence is running about 7-10 days ahead of normal
- recent heavy rains in the far eastern Corn Belt will slow planting progress
- soil moisture in the region is generally adequate to surplus
- need warmer and dryer weather
Western Corn Belt (Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas)
- the planting is progressing generally 7-10 days ahead of the normal planting pace
- corn emergence is about 7-10 days ahead of normal
- cool weather will continue to slow germination and emergence
- any weekend frost damage to corn should be minimal
- soil moisture in the region is generally adequate
- need warmer and dryer weather
Northwestern Corn Belt (North Dakota, South Dakota, NW Minnesota)
- field work started early, but progress has slowed due to cooler and wetter conditions
- corn planting ahead of normal, soybean planting normal or slightly behind
- cold weather will slow planting progress
- less than 10% of corn emerged, weekend frost damage to corn was minimal
- soil moisture in the region is generally adequate to surplus
- need warmer weather
Southern Corn Belt and mid-South (Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi)
- weather has not been good in this region for the last 7-10 days
- heavy rains on the first weekend of May in Tennessee, Kentucky, and other parts of the mid-South set back planting progress and will result in some corn being drowned out and will need to be replanted
- some corn acreage will probably be switched to soybeans
- planting progressed only a few percent last week
- soil moisture in the region is generally surplus
- low lying areas could have standing water for several weeks
- any additional rainfall would be detrimental