US corn plantings reach 81% completed, soybeans now 66% sowed

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US farmers are closing in on their final acreage, with the corn crop now 81% planted and soybeans now 66% sowed, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly crop progress report.

The current pace of the corn crop is ahead of the 69% achieved at this point last season and above the five-year average of 75%.

Missouri and North Carolina are the leading states with 97% of their crop completed.

Currently, there is 52% of the corn crop emerged, which is above the 35% seen in 2022 and the five-year average of 45%.

For soybeans, growers are now at 66% of the crop completed, which is above the 47% achieved last season and the five-year average of 52%.

Illinois at 85% completed is the leading state in soybean plantings.

There is now 36% of the crop which has emerged, which is well ahead of the 19% in 2022 and above the five-year average of 24%.

In other key row crops, the progress report showed that US cotton plantings have reached 45%, while grain sorghum acreage is now at 33% completed.