By DOUG SCHMITZ

Iowa Correspondent

DES MOINES, Iowa — Severe weather carrying heavy rain once again delayed planting progress for American farmers across the Midwest and Great Plains last week, with corn growers planting only 49 percent of their crop and soybean growers getting only 19 percent into the ground.

However, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Tennessee experienced drier conditions for planting progress for the week ending May 19. That’s according to the latest USDA Crop Progress report, which said corn planting was at its slowest pace on record since 1980.

“We know farmers are anxious for a window of dry weather to wrap up in the fields,” Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig.

The USDA said the corn planted so far is quite a leap from 30 percent the previous week, just under the 50 percent trade estimate by analysts. But it still remains well behind 2018’s 78 percent and a previous five-year average of 80 percent, the lowest of all time for that date.

Allendale, Inc.’s Rich Nelson said a May 19 50 percent planting would push trend yields down by 4 percent, and a push to a May 20 planting date could make that -4.5 percent (168.8 bushels per acre).

In addition, the USDA said only nine of the top 18 production states have planted at least half their corn so far, which includes Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Indiana and Ohio made the least progress during this time.

Corn emergence is at 19 percent, up from 10 percent the previous week but well behind 2018’s pace of 47 percent and the previous five-year average of 49 percent, the USDA said.

For soybeans, there were five states – Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, and South Dakota – that have only made single-digit planting progress so far this spring.

Soy planting is at 19 percent complete, under the 24 percent trade estimate; the five-year average is 47 percent, the USDA said. Soybean emergence is at 5 percent, compared to 24 percent in 2018 and the previous five-year average of 17 percent.

The USDA said, however, spring wheat planting advanced to 70 percent, well over the 63 percent trade estimate. Winter wheat crop improved from 64 percent to 66 good to excellent; the average trade guess was for a decline to 63 percent.

In Illinois, winter wheat headed reached 64 percent, with its condition rated at 8 percent very poor to 4 percent excellent. Corn planted is at 24 percent, emerging at 11 percent. Soybeans planted is at 9 percent, emerging at 2 percent, the state’s report said.

In Indiana, USDA State Statistician Greg Matli said, “A cool, dry start to the week gave farmers a brief window for fieldwork. Producers were able to make a dent in planting progress before the previous week’s rains once again halted field activity.”

The state had only 14 percent of corn planted, with 4 percent emerging, and 6 percent of soybeans planted, with 1 percent emerging.

In Iowa, Naig said, “Despite the wet conditions, farmers in northern and east-central Iowa made notable gains, planting about one-quarter of their corn crop (the previous) week.” Corn growers have 70 percent of corn planted, with 20 percent emerging – the smallest percentage planted by May 19 since 1995.

Moreover, 27 percent of Iowa soybeans had been planted, with 3 percent emerging, and 97 percent of oats planted, with 76 percent emerging.

In Kentucky, rainfall was below normal for two straight weeks. May 13-14 started cool and dry, before a disturbance passed through western Kentucky May 15, the state’s report said. Many across this area saw a quarter to an inch-plus of rain, while the rest of the state remained dry.

As of May 20, Kentucky had 71 percent of corn planted, with 50 percent emerging, and 22 percent of soybeans planted, with 8 percent emerging.

In Michigan, most regions experienced warmer temperatures and varying amounts of precipitation. Reporters in the Upper Peninsula noted some fields were starting to dry out enough for small grains to be planted.

Southern counties in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula reported strong winds and heavy thunderstorms during the end of the week before last, which caused damage to some winter wheat fields. The state had only 19 percent of corn planted, with 1 percent emerging, and only 10 percent of soybeans planted, with 1 percent emerging.

In Ohio, slow planting progress continued the week of May 19 as rains kept farmers out of the fields, said USDA State Statistician Cheryl Turner. “Some corn and soybean planting, and field preparation were done where conditions allowed, but for most, drier, warmer weather was needed,” she explained.

The state had only 9 percent of corn planted, with 3 percent emerging, and only 4 percent of soybeans planted, with no emergence.

In Tennessee, spotty showers did little to hinder corn, cotton, and soybean planting, with strawberry growers reporting good yields. Matthew Deist, Marion County reporter, said, “A week of mostly dry weather in May is a productive one. Corn planting is finished and beans are well on their way to being likewise.”

The state had 85 percent corn planted, with 72 percent emerging, and 31 percent soybeans planted, with 14 percent emerging. Tobacco transplant supplies were 1 percent very short to 4 percent surplus.

This month’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report projected “abundant corn, soybean, and wheat supplies for the coming crop year, both in the U.S. and around the world.” U.S. corn stocks are expected to build by 390 million bushels to the highest level since the late 1980s, it added.

But Allendale’s May 22 morning report said U.S. weather forecasts remain wet near-term, while news out of Washington suggests farmer aid could sway planting decisions.