U.S. farmers made major progress planting this summer’s grain crops between May 15 and 22. In the top 18 corn producing states, planting increased by 16 percent and is now 79 percent complete (compared to a five-year average of 87 percent). Three states (Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska) are ahead of the five-year average. The worst remaining delays, all weather-related, are in Ohio, North Dakota and Indiana.

Further progress is expected, depending on weather conditions. In North Dakota, for example, farmers like to have corn planted by mid-May but will plant late into the month if necessary. Further north in the state, it is not unusual to have some planting as late as June 10.

On the planted acres, corn emergence has improved from 21 percent on May 15 to 45 percent on May 22; average emergence by this date is 59 percent.

In the top eleven sorghum-producing states, sorghum seeding stands at 40 percent, on track with the five-year average. Barley planting for the five top-producing states is at 57 percent, lagging the 89 percent average. Most of the barley planting delays have come in North Dakota and Montana.