Farmers planted a lot of corn this past week, particularly in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, as a few days of warm, dry weather were enough to get them back in the fields.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said 71% of the corn and 32% of the soybeans were planted versus the five-year averages of 70% and 32%, respectively.

Iowa’s corn planting jumped to 85% from last week’s 52%, Minnesota was at 84% from 35%, North Dakota was at 58% from 23% and South Dakota was at 77% versus 32%. All of those numbers topped the five-year averages for those states.

“Statewide there were 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork. This allowed farmers to plant one-third of the state’s expected corn acreage and just under one-third of the state’s expected soybean acreage,” Iowa said its state report. “The dry and warm weather also aided crop emergence.”

Iowa’s soybeans were 40% planted versus the 32% average.

Illinois corn planting went to 75% completed versus 65% last week but was short of the five-year average of 77%. Emergence was 47% versus the 50% average. Illinois rated its emerged corn 7% excellent, 35% good, 42% fair, 13% poor and 3% very poor.

Nationally, winter wheat condition slipped two points to 51% good/excellent, with Illinois wheat posting another big drop, while the storm-hit Kansas crop improved a little. The Illinois state report did not provide a specific reason for wheat dropping to 52% good/excellent from last week’s 60%, but the state had about 0.9 in. of rain over the past week and 1.9 days suitable for fieldwork.

Kansas wheat improved one point to 44% good/excellent. That crop is still recovering from the late-April storm that produced up to a foot of snow in western areas.

Bryce Knorr, Farm Futures senior grain analyst, said, “Winter wheat yield production dropped last week, with our two models narrowing to a range of" 46.0-46.8 bu. per acre.

Spring wheat was 78% planted and 40% emerged, compared with the 73% and 44% averages. North Dakota spring wheat was 72% planted versus the 63% average and 31% emerged versus the 35% average.

“Producers in parts of southern North Dakota indicated that additional moisture is needed to help germinate recently planted seeds. There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork,” North Dakota said.