Corn planting lags behind 5-year average

Washington -- Major U.S. corn states have planted half the acreage they planted compared with this week a year ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Tuesday.

On a five-year average, farmers in the 18 largest corn-growing states have 35 percent of their corn planting done by this week. In 2007, 20 percent of the acreage had been planted by this week. This year, farmers have completed 10 percent.

Several states are well above the national average. North Carolina has 70 percent of its corn acreage planted. But, it is behind its five-year average for this time of year, which is 78 percent.

The weekly crop report said 15 percent of the nation's winter wheat crop has headed out, compared with a five-year average of 25 percent for this week of the year.

The country's six major spring wheat states are close to their five-year average for planting with 34 percent planted, compared with an average of 40 percent.

Rice planting is also close to the five-year average with 19 percent planted compared with an average of 22 percent.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.