Grainnet

USDA’s most recent Crop Progress report shows U.S. sorghum planting is right on schedule while corn and barley fall behind the nation’s five-year average.

As of Monday, May 4, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reported 30 percent of sorghum planted, which matched the five-year average; 33 percent of corn planted, down 17 percent from the five-year average; and 22 percent of barley planted, down 32 percent from the five-year average.

The Northern states, especially North Dakota, Illinois and Montana, seem to still be suffering wet, cool weather, which has prevented corn and barley planting.

Heavy precipitation in the winter and spring, followed by a severe flood has left Northern Minnesota and North Dakota far behind in their barley planting schedules.

“We’re getting out there much later than we would like to,” said Jim Broten, U.S. Grains Council chairman and North Dakota barley grower.

“Typically, the later we get the crop in the lower yield it produces; a rough estimate is about one bushel per day past the tenth of May. Each growing season is different from the other, however, so one can’t be certain what kind of yields the harvest will bring.”

Minnesota and Iowa are much further along than expected in corn planting reporting 59 percent planted, 11 percent higher than the five-year average, and 60 percent planted, 7 percent higher than the five-year average, respectively.

States like Illinois, 5 percent corn planted, 61 percent lower than the five-year average; North Dakota reported zero corn planted, 29 percent lower than the five-year average; and Montana, 30 percent barley planted, 34 percent lower from the five-year average, hope for dry weather in the near future.

“I took my planter out April 23 and before I got to the field it had rained 4.5 inches.

"The planter is still just sitting there,” said Wendell Shauman, USGC secretary and corn farmer from Illinois.

“People are starting to get in the fields here and there, but it is a slow, slow sprint. It is simply just too wet.”

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