2023 U.S. Planting Progress – Corn 8% Planted, Soybeans 4%

What a difference a week makes! Most of the Midwest last week looked and felt like summer. This week, not so much with cooler temperatures and occasional snow. Chicago’s O’Hare airport had four straight days last week above 80°F, which was the second earliest string of four 80+ degree days, trailing only 2012. The forecast for this week is for much cooler temperatures with chances of rain in the central locations and/or snow in the northern locations.

Corn – Farmers took advantage of the good conditions last week to ramp up the start of their corn planting. U.S. farmers have planted 8% of the 2023 corn crop compared to 4% last year and 5% average. This represents an advance of 5% for the week. Some of the fastest planting of the major states are Missouri with 30% planted (8% average), Tennessee 23% (16% average), Kansas 17% (10% average), Kentucky 14% (12% average), Illinois 10% (3% average), and Iowa 7% (1% average).

Last week was a good week for planting, especially in the southern areas. Very little corn has been planted in the far eastern Corn Belt or the northwestern Cron Belt.

Soybeans – U.S. farmers have planted 4% of the 2023 soybean crop compared to 1% last year and 1% average. Soybean planting is also the most advanced across the Delta and southern Midwest with Louisiana 30% planted (16% average), Mississippi 23% (14% average), Arkansas 19% (8% average), Tennessee 7% (1% average), Kentucky 7% (2% average), Illinois 4% (1% average), and Iowa 3% (0% average).

Last week was also a good week for the start of the soybean planting.

Tags: planting, soybeans, crop, U.S., snow, cooler temperatures, corn