USDA To Update Status Of Corn Plantings

U.S. farmers are making the most of a respite from what has been a wet spring to get their corn crops planted. However, the pace still keeps them well behind schedule. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported yesterday that 28% of the nation's cornfields have been planted, up from just 12% a week ago. But the latest numbers are well short of the 65% of the crop that already was in the ground by this date over the previous five years. At this time last year, 85% of the corn was planted. Just 17% of the corn crop in Illinois is sown, 11% lower than in Missouri. As the nation's biggest corn producer, Iowa has just 15% of its crop planted.