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May 12, 2010

Early U.S. Crop Conditions by Regions

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