U.S. corn planting made slow progress this past week due to rain and cool weather, with 75% completed as of Sunday, up 11 points from a week ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Monday. The planting pace was down from 82% a year ago but up from the five-year average of 70%.

Corn emergence was 43%, down from 48% last year but up from the 34% average.

Indiana and Ohio continued to lag behind the pace of the western Midwest, with 45% of Indiana's corn planted and 34% for Ohio, as rain sidelined planters.  

Soybeans were 36% planted nationwide, with Iowa at 43%, Illinois at 29%, Indiana at 15% and Ohio at 10%.

“Overcast skies and periods of heavy rains kept the soils too damp for planting in many parts of the state. The southern region received the heaviest rainfall, with some counties accumulating over 3 in.,” the Indiana report said. “Localized flooding occurred throughout the state, which has some concerned about replanting corn and soybeans.”

Conditions were not much better in Ohio, where farmers have been unable to get into fields that are soggy and, in some cases, had standing water, the state report said.

“Conditions have slowed emergence, and much of what has emerged is stressed. Some areas saw cool enough temperatures to have frost on Sunday morning,” the Ohio report added.

Wet, cold conditions slowed progress in Iowa as well, where there were only 2.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. However, corn was 97% planted in north-central and central Iowa, the state report said. There were reports of frost in low-lying areas, but the Iowa report did not say if there was any crop damage.

Winter wheat was unchanged at 62% good to excellent condition. The crop was 68% headed, which was ahead of 65% last year and the 56% average. The Kansas crop improved three points to 57% good/excellent, Oklahoma was unchanged at 65%, while Texas wheat slipped a point to 48%.

Spring wheat planting went to 89% completed versus 92% a year ago the 64% average. The crop was 60% emerged versus 63% last year and the 36% average. Spring wheat in North Dakota, the top spring wheat state, was 87% planted and 52% emerged. Both of those were ahead of the five-year averages.

Nationally, sorghum was 33% planted versus 36% a year ago and the 36% average. Cotton was 40% planted versus 32% a year ago and the 39% average.