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| Midwest corn planting behind 5-year average |
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — About 11 percent of Indiana’s corn crop and less than 1 percent of the state’s soybean crop have been planted, said Andy Higgins, agricultural statistician for the Indiana office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Figures are through the week ending April 27. At the same time last year, 10 percent of the corn crop and 2 percent of the soybean crop had been planted. While the corn planted so far this year is on par with 2007, Hoosier farmers are behind the five-year average, which is 30 percent by this time.
“We’re not to the point yet where a delayed planting will affect the crop,” Higgins said. “If we get a good window of opportunity, they can easily gain ground.”
Because of excess rain, the southern third of the state is behind the central and northern areas, he said.
Farmers in those areas have planted about 12 percent of their corn crop, while those in the south have planted about 6 percent.
“It’s so wet and that’s been pushing them back,” he said. “They’re usually ahead because it’s warmer there.”
Indiana farmers are expected to plant 5.7 million acres of corn, down from last year’s 6.5 million. They’re also expected to plant 5.5 million acres of soybeans, up from last year’s 4.7 million, Higgins said.
By Michele F. Mihaljevich
Indiana Correspondent
Illinois
As of April 28, corn planting progress in Illinois was running at its slowest pace since 1993, with only 6 percent of the state’s crop planted, compared with 29 percent last year and the five-year average of 55 percent. A prolonged winter season and heavy rains in parts of the state combined to keep farmers from their fields during most of April.
As of May 2, 35-45 percent of corn in north-central Illinois had been planted, according to Bob Frazee, natural resources educator with the University of Illinois extension in East Peoria. Farmers in counties with lighter, timber-based soils with both slope and sand may have up to 75 percent of their crop in the ground, Frazee told Farm World.
“However, on some of our heavier prairie soils where drainage continues to be a problem, some of the farmers have not yet started or have just begun spring fieldwork,” he said. Soil compaction continues to be a concern for all growers in Illinois.
“If farmers get out onto the fields too soon, this can greatly affect germination, early season growth, root development and fertilizer and water uptake for the entire season,” Frazee cautioned.
By Tim Alexander
Illinois Correspondent
Ohio
The cold, wet spring has Ohio farmers getting into the field a little later than normal, said Dwayne Siekman, executive director of the Ohio Corn Growers Assoc.
According to James Ramey, director of the NASS Ohio Field Office, 9 percent of the corn crop was planted as of April 28, compared to 15 percent at the same time last year; 31 percent is normal. He had no reports of soybeans planted as of that date.
“In talking to growers, they’re not panicking at this point,” Siekman said. “I talked to a grower yesterday; he finally got out in the field. They’re pretty confident of their ability to plant; now they could move the corn in the ground pretty quickly. As of May 1, no one is too concerned.”
Corn acres, which increased significantly last year, are going to be down from last year, he said. “We’re going to go back down to our normal level, with ‘normal’ meaning over the past 10 years prior to last year,” he said.
By Celeste Baumgartner
Ohio Correspondent
Iowa
The severe thunderstorm system that moved across much of Iowa about two weeks ago, dumping heavy rainfall on most of the state, has delayed spring planting for many farmers in the second-rainiest April on record in 136 years.
“Wet conditions across the state are starting to be of concern as farmers are anxious to get into the field,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. “The delays experienced to this point are not yet damaging to crop yields, but warmer, drier weather would be very welcome.”
The USDA stated Iowa producers intend to grow 13.2 million acres of corn, a 7 percent decrease from 2007, and 9.8 million acres of soybeans, a 15 percent increase. Only 3 percent of the state’s corn acres were planted as of April 27, compared to 12 percent in 2007.
“There has been essentially no corn or soybeans planted yet in my area, except for an isolated field or two, and few oats or forages either,” said Jim Fawcett, Iowa State University extension field agronomist. “It has been a number of years since there was no planting done before May.
By Doug Schmitz
Iowa Correspondent
Michigan
About 12 percent of Michigan’s corn crop and 1 percent of the state’s soybean crop have been planted, according to Vince Matthews, deputy director with the Michigan Field Office of the NASS. Figures are for the week ending April 27.
At the same time last year, 7 percent of the corn crop and 2 percent of the soybean crop had been planted, according to Matthews. Farmers are on track with Michigan’s five-year average of 17 percent corn and 4 percent soybeans planted by this time in the spring.
“We’re basically just a little ahead of last year, but not much,” he said. “There’s not too much difference about where we are when compared to the five-year average.”
Matthews said a recent cold spell in Michigan, which has caused temperatures to dip into the upper 20s to low 30s at night and has kept afternoon highs in the 50s throughout much of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, has not slowed spring planting.
“The cold snap hasn’t really affected planting,” he said. “It’s normal for it to take a while for the weather to warm up. It’s not getting excessively cold or warm. We’re pretty much on schedule here.”
Michigan farmers are expected to plant about 2.35 million acres of corn, down 11 percent from last year’s 2.65 million acres. They also are expected to plant about 2 million acres of soybeans, up 14 percent from last year’s 1.75 million acres.
By Shelly Strautz-Springborn
Michigan Correspondent
Kentucky
Planting progress for Kentucky’s corn crop remains behind last year’s and the five-year average, according to information from the NASS. The wet conditions kept many farmers out of the field, especially in the western Kentucky counties bordered by the Ohio River.
As of April 27, only 34 percent of the intended corn acreage had been planted, compared to 54 percent at this time last year and 64 percent for the five-year average. The drier weather permitted many farmers to begin planting two weeks ago, when only 11 percent of the crop had made it into the ground. Corn emergence, reported at 4 percent, is far below 2007, which stood at 18 percent, and the five-year average of 30 percent. Thus far the condition of the crop is rated at 3 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.
Soybean planting is still in the beginning stages, with 2 percent planted as of April 27, the same as last year at this time, with the five-year average at 4 percent.
By Tim Thornberry
Kentucky Correspondent |
| 5/7/2008 |
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