Corn planting trails five-year average

The U.S. corn crop’s planting progress is falling behind its historic average, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday.

Over the past five years, 14 percent of the crop has been planted by this time of year. But, the 18 largest corn-growing states report only 5 percent of this year’s crop has seeds in the ground.

In the country’s 15 largest cotton-producing states, 11 percent of the crop has been planted against a five-year average of 14 percent for this week of the year.

The sorghum crop is equal to its historic average with 26 percent planted. The six largest rice producing states report 29 percent of the planting is done. Historically, 39 percent is done by the third week in April.

Spring wheat planting, like corn, is trailing its historic average. The six largest spring wheat producing states, accounting for 98 percent of the crop, are 6 percent done compared with a five-year average of 21 percent.