Corn Planting is Now Already Underway in 7 States

The second Crop Progress Report of the year from USDA shows farmers are already ahead in planting the 2024 crop. As of Sunday, USDA indicates planting the 2024 crop has started in seven states, and six of the seven states are already beating the five-year average.

Highlights of the weekly progress report include:

• 59% of Texas’ corn is in the ground, two percentage points ahead of the five-year average but one point behind a year ago.
• 7% of the corn crop in Tennessee is planted, two points above average and three points ahead of last year.
• 7 % of Missouri’s corn is planted, four points ahead of average and two points quicker than last year’s record pace.
• 5% is planted in Kentucky, two points ahead of the five-year average but one point behind last year.
• 4% of the corn in Kansas is planted, one point ahead of average and one point behind last year.
• 2% of Illinois’ corn crop is in the ground, one point quicker than average and last year.

Related News: Spring Planting Progress Off To A Good Start

The only state trailing the average pace is North Carolina where 8% of the crop is in the ground, one point behind average and last year.

A year ago, hints were starting to roll in about just how early the planting season could be for farmers in parts of the Corn Belt. After April and early March were dominated by cold temperatures, as well as rain and snow in 2023, drier conditions took hold, and forecasts for milder temperatures and dry weather opened a large window for planting.

As of April 9, 2023, USDA’s second planting progress report of the season showed 3% of the nation’s corn crop was planted, up one percentage point from the previous week, previous year and the five-year average.

Highlights of the state-by-state breakdown a year ago showed:

• 61% of Texas’ corn is in the ground, three percentage points ahead of the five-year average.
• 12% of North Carolina’s corn crop is planted, two points behind average.
• 7% of the corn crop is Missouri is planted, four points ahead of the five-year average.
• 6% of the crop in Kansas is in the ground, up two points from average.

Back to present day, and the weather looks prime for planting to continue this week. Growers across Illinois, Iowa and Missouri are talking about starting to plant this week if the forecast holds.

Photos of Planting Progress So Far

In Texas, farmers were planting under the solar eclipse. Ale Frick says they survived the eclipse, and soybean planting continues on their farm.

In northwest Iowa, at least one farmer took the opportunity to plant over the weekend.

Also in Iowa, more reports of planters starting to roll this week, according to Dusty Rich.

We want to see how planting is progressing in your area. Make sure to keep AgWeb updated with Crop Comments throughout the season.