U.S. planting lags behind normal pace
May 7, 2008 9:24 AM
According to USDA’s May 5 crop progress report, 5 percent of the nation’s soybean crop has been planted, which is behind the five-year average of 14 percent.
Fifty-six percent of Mississippi’s expected soybean acreage has been planted, which is behind last year’s 66 percent and the five-year average of 75 percent. Louisiana soybean planting, at 56 percent complete, is ahead of last year’s 51 percent and the five-year average 45 percent.
USDA estimates that 27 percent of the nation’s corn crop had been planted by the week ending May 4, compared to the five-year average of 59 percent. Four percent of the U.S. corn crop has emerged compared to the five-year average of 17 percent.
Twenty-six percent of the U.S. cotton crop is in the ground, according to USDA, which is lagging only slightly behind the 28 percent planted by this time last year and the five-year average of 32 percent. Sixty-eight percent of the Louisiana cotton crop and 98 percent of California’s crop has been planted.
Sixty-one percent of the U.S. rice crop had been planted by May 4, compared with the five-year average of 71 percent. Rice is 98 percent planted in Texas and 91 percent planted in Louisiana. Both states are ahead of last year’s pace and the five-year average. The rest of the Mid-South states are behind last year’s pace and the five-year average.
