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Status of 2021 Corn and Soybean Crops
 The USDA Crop Progress Report released on May 17th documented corn and soybean planting to date compared to the 5-year average. Corn planting is 12 percent ahead of the 5-year average with 80 percent completed through this past week. Soybean planting is 24 percent ahead of the five-year average, advancing 19 percent this past week to 61 percent completed. Corn and soybean emergence parallels the rate of planting.
U.S. average subsoil and surface moisture levels were generally stable over the past two weeks but lower than the corresponding weeks in 2020 due to drought in Western states and the Dakotas*. Topsoil moisture in Iowa is at the lowest level among the major corn and soybean-producing states this week at 34 percent in the “Very Short” and “Short” categories and is cause for concern, although the value has improved from 55% over two weeks.
CHICK-NEWS and EGG-NEWS will report on the progress of the two major crops as monitored by the USDA through the end of the 2021 harvest in November.
Reference is made to the May 12th WASDE Report #612 accessible under the STATISTICS tab for projected 2021 acreage and yields. This data will be updated after Report #613 is released in mid-June when acreage and projected yields have firmed.
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WEEK ENDING
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Crop
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May 9th
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May 16th
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5-Year Average
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Corn Planted (%)
Corn Emerged (%)
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67
20
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80
41
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68
35
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Soybeans planted (%)
Soybeans Emerged (%)
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42
10
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61
20
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37
12
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Parameter
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V. Short
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Short
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Adequate
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Surplus
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Topsoil moisture %: Past Week*
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13
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21
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57
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9
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Past Year
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4
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14
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64
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18
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Subsoil moisture %: Past Week
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14
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23
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55
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8
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Past Year
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4
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12
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69
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15
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