Corn planting 95 percent done for year

Washington -- Planting in the U.S. corn belt reached 95 percent completion in the week ending June 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday.

Corn planting has lagged behind its five-year average through the spring, helping drive corn prices up on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Corn emergence, the second measure of crop progress, is at 74 percent, compared with a five-year average of 89 percent.

Peanut crop planting has progressed in step with its five-year average with 86 percent completed.

Sunflower planting is slightly ahead of its five-year average. Soybeans are 69 percent planted against an average of 81 percent for this week of the year.
Oats planting is near completion, 94 percent done. Cotton stands at 83 percent done, near its average.

Spring wheat emergence is slightly ahead of its 90 percent average for this time of year. Rice, in the six largest rice-producing states, is 91 percent emerged, against an average of 89 percent for this time of year.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.