Corn planting well behind a year ago

For the week ending May 20, there were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Northern Plains Regional Field Office, South Dakota. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 11 short, 81 adequate, and 7 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 20 short, 74 adequate, and 4 surplus.

Corn planted was 66 percent, well behind 86 last year, and behind 81 for the five-year average. Emerged was 15 percent, well behind 42 last year and 35 average.

Soybeans planted was 24 percent, well behind 52 last year and 44 average. Emerged was 2 percent, behind 10 last year and 8 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 10 poor, 43 fair, 46 good, and 0 excellent.

Spring wheat planted was 94 percent, behind 99 last year, and equal to average. Emerged was 63 percent, well behind 93 last year, and behind 73 average.

Oats condition rated 0 percent very poor, 8 poor, 46 fair, 44 good, and 2 excellent. Oats planted was 92 percent, behind 99 last year, and near 94 average. Emerged was 70 percent, well behind 94 last year, and behind 79 average.

Sorghum planted was 28 percent, ahead of 18 last year and 16 average. Sunflowers planted was 13 percent, near 10 last year, and ahead of 6 average.