U.S. Weather Turning More Spring-Like, Corn 3% Planted

The weather across the Midwest has turned more spring-like. Temperatures have warmed up and the rainfall has diminished. Warm and dry weather is forecasted for this week across the central and southern Corn Belt which should allow corn planting to get off to a quick start.

U.S. corn planting as of Sunday was 3% compared to 2% last year and 2% average. This represents an advance of 1% for the week. The most advanced planting was across the southern U.S. with Texas 61% planted and planting in Louisiana nearly complete. Corn planters are rolling across the southeastern U.S. with 64% planted in Georgia, 32% planted in Alabama, and 12% planted in North Carolina. Some early corn planting is starting in the southern Corn Belt with Kansas 6% planted, Missouri at 7%, and Illinois at 1%. Given the forecast for this week, these planting percentages will increase quickly.

It is generally dryer in the western Corn Belt and wetter in the eastern Corn Belt, so the planting progress should follow the same pattern.

The warmer temperatures in the northern Plains are going to start melting the heavy snowpack in the northwestern Corn Belt. There could be flooding along the rivers in the region, but it remains to be seen how bad it will be. A quick melt could result in flooding, whereas a slow melt would reduce the chances of flooding but slow down the start of field work and planting.

Tags: corn, planting, weather, rainfall, U.S., temperature, Midwest, snowpack