Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin – Week Ending June 6

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the June 9 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending June 6):

Corn: By week’s end, 97 percent of the Nation’s corn acreage was planted, on par with last year’s pace but 2 points behind the 5-year average. The most progress was made in North Dakota and the Corn Belt States of Indiana and Illinois, where producers planted 12, 12, and 11 percent of their crop, respectively. Emergence advanced to 87 percent complete, also on par with last year but 7 points behind normal. Following large jumps in the number of acres planted in previous weeks, the most crop development was seen in North and South Dakota, with 29 and 27 percent of the crop emerging during the week, respectively. Overall, 69 percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 60 percent a week ago and the previous year.

Soybeans: Nationally, 78 percent of the 2009 soybean crop was planted, 2 points ahead of last year but 9 points behind the average. Planting neared completion in Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa, three of the top six soybean-producing States, with 99, 97, and 95 percent of the crop planted, respectively. Strong pushes in planting were made in North Dakota and Illinois, where producers took advantage of improved conditions and made up for time lost because of wet fields earlier in the season. Emergence jumped
19 points during the week to 55 percent complete, 3 points ahead of the previous year but 15 points behind the 5-year average.