May 16, 2023

2023 U.S. Corn 65% Planted vs. 59 Average, Soy 49% vs. 36 Average

Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.

Corn - The 2023 U.S. corn is 65% planted compared to 45% last year and 59% average. This represents an advance of 16% for the week. Corn is 30% emerged compared to 13% last year and 25% average.

The most rapid corn planting has been in the southern and western areas with Missouri 96% planted (73% average), Tennessee 88% (81% average), Iowa 86% (72% average), Illinois 84% (63% average), and Nebraska 76% (71% average). The slowest planting continues to be in the northwestern and eastern Corn Belt with North Dakota 5% planted (26% average), Ohio 26% (34% average), Michigan 31% (37% average), and Wisconsin 33% (45% average).

The corn crop continues to get off to an above average start especially in the southern and western areas. It is a little above average in the eastern Corn Belt and below average in North Dakota.

Soybeans - The 2023 U.S. soybeans are 49% planted compared to 27% last year and 36% average. This represents an advance of 14% for the week. The soybeans are 20% emerged compared to 8% last year and 11% average.

The most rapid soybean planting has been in the southern and western areas with Louisiana 78% planted (70% average), Illinois 77% (45% average), Mississippi 72% (63% average), Arkansas 71% (48% average), and Iowa 69% (48% average). The slowest planting is in the northwestern and eastern Corn Belt with North Dakota 2% planted (15% average), Wisconsin 24% (30% average), Ohio 28% (23% average), South Dakota 29% (22% average), and Minnesota 30% ( 37% average).

The soybean crop seems to be outperforming the corn crop, at least for the time being. It is getting off to an above average start except for North Dakota.

Soil Moisture - The last seven days saw above normal precipitation in southern Minnesota, western Nebraska, western South Dakota, and western North Dakota. It was somewhat dryer east of the Mississippi River. The rains in the western Cron Belt helped improve the soil moisture, but they will need more going forward. The forecast for this week is calling for lighter rainfall amounts in the central Corn Belt and heavier amounts in the southern Corn Belt and the mid-South.