WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite frequent rainstorms, corn and soybean planting stayed ahead of normal pace in much of the country last month, according to the USDA’s May Crop Production Report.

As of April 30, 52 percent of the U.S. corn acreage was planted, 10 percentage points ahead of normal. During the last week of April, seeding progressed 39 points in Illinois, 37 points in Iowa and 36 points in Minnesota.

By April 30, 10 percent of the nation’s soybean crop was in the ground, 2 percentage points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal. The report said that progress was most advanced in the Delta and was slightly ahead of normal in the Corn Belt, but slightly behind normal in the Great Plains.

With harvest approaching, winter wheat production is forecast at 1.32 billion bushels, down 12 percent from 2005. Based on May 1 conditions, the USDA estimates yield at 42.4 bushels per acre, 2 bushels less than last year.

Only 36 percent of the winter wheat crop was rated good to excellent on April 30, 27 percentage points below last year.

The May Crop Production Report, is on the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service website at www.nass.usda.gov

This farm news was published in the May 17, 2006 issue of Farm World.