US farmers have completed 91% of corn sowings with soybeans at 78%

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US farmers are nearing the end of crops sowings as they have completed 91% of their corn acreage with soybean plantings at 78%, according to the latest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly crop progress report.

With some weather issues persisting, the current pace of the corn plantings is trailing the 95% achieved in 2023 but is above the five-year average of 89%.

All the reporting states are above 83% of their corn acreage completed except for Kentucky at 79% and Pennsylvania at 70% of their crops finished.

There is now 74% of the corn crop which has emerged, but that pace is behind the 81% achieved in 2023 but it is currently ahead of the five-year average of 73%.

In the first update on corn conditions, the USDA said 1% of the crop is very poor with 3% listed as poor. There is 21% of the crop rated fair with 60% as good and 15% as excellent.

Soybean plantings are now at 78% completed, but the current level is lagging the 89% mark reached last year but is above the five-year average of 73%.

Mississippi continues to be the leading state for soybean plantings with 94% of the crop completed, with Arkansas close behind at 92%.

There is 55% of the crop which has emerged, but this is less than the 69% from 2023 but it is at a higher level than the five-year average of 52%.

For the other key crops, the USDA said cotton plantings have reached 70% completed with sorghum at 51% and spring wheat at 94%.