US corn planting almost up to average

27 May 2008 22:15  [Source: ICIS news]

(Recasts for clarity)

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Corn planting in the US continued to catch up to a five-year average and is now 88% complete, according to data released on Tuesday by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Planting in 18 American states is still below the 94% average for 2003-2007, but the gap has been closing rapidly since farms have been recovering over the past few weeks from heavy rain.

Last week, the USDA reported 73% of the planting was completed.

Of the states surveyed this week,  South Dakota had made the most planting progress over the past seven days, with 85% of the process completed compared to just 55% a week ago. Minnesota jumped from 67% to 95% of planting completed.

Still, only four of the states - Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina and North Dakota - were above average, with only North Dakota and Michigan posting results better than their planting at this time last year.

Meanwhile, five states - Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio - were still lagging 10% or more behind their 2003-07 levels.

Of the states surveyed, which account for 91% of the US corn planted in 2007, Ohio was making the least progress - reporting 64% of planting completed, up from 52% last week but down from a five-year average of 93%.

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By: David Rosen
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