It is mid-June and throughout the Corn Belt corn is waist to shoulder high with early planted fields beginning to reveal tassels. Soybeans are all ankle to knee high and early planted beans are beginning to bloom. In a typical year those conditions all might be true, but 2009 is not typical and those descriptions of corn and soybean fields are little more than pipedreams in many regions. A complete assessment will be an important element in many marketing plans.

USDA’s Weekly Crop Progress Report indicates the Corn Belt is not short of water this spring. In fact, surplus water has hampered crop development in some regions of the eastern Corn Belt.

Illinois: Continued cool, wet weather permitted only three days of fieldwork. Most of the precipitation was received early in the week, which allowed producers the opportunity to start wrapping up corn planting, with soybeans not that far behind. Some fields are uneven and turning yellow due to the excess rainfall. The average height of corn is 10 in., compared to 11 in. in 2008 and 25 in. for the five-year average. Only half of the soybeans have emerged, compared to the five year average of 86%. Topsoil moisture is 40% surplus and 59% adequate.

Indiana: Farmers were making good progress with fieldwork until more rain fell across the state mid-week. Heavy rain showers left standing water in many fields around the state, which puts farmers further behind with planting, spraying and side-dressing corn with nitrogen. Producers in some central and southern areas have now begun taking prevented planting payments on some acreage that was intended to be corn or are switching to soybeans. Only three days were suitable for fieldwork last week, in part because the topsoil moisture is 39% in surplus. Sixteen percent of the soybeans have not yet been planted, compared to a 7% average for this time of year.

Iowa: Even with flooding problems in the southeast, most of the state’s corn and soybean fields made good progress. One hundred percent of the corn has been planted and 99% is emerged with 78% in good to excellent condition. Soybeans are 97% planted and 92% emerged, with 75% in good to excellent condition. Iowa again received widespread rainfall along with cooler temperatures last week. While northwest producers rejoiced, the southeast is again under flood watch as rain continued to saturate the region. Currently, 74% of the topsoil has adequate moisture and 24% is in surplus.

Kansas: Eighty percent of the wheat is turning color, slightly behind the 87% average, and 9% is ripe, well behind the 41% average. Twenty-four percent has light insect infestation and 36% has light disease infestation. Forty-nine percent of the sorghum has emerged, which is about average. The topsoil moisture is 77% adequate and 12% in surplus.

Michigan: The average corn height is 6 in. Although added moisture is expected to improve emergence where conditions were less than ideal for planting; additional rainfall kept farmers out of fields. Crop development continued to be delayed by cooler-than-normal temperatures. Growers continued to hope for warmer temperatures to spur crop development. Growers sprayed and side-dressed crops as weather permitted. Soybean planting is nearly complete. Nitrogen side-dressing of corn occurred. Topsoil is 80% adequate and 15% in surplus.

Minnesota: Corn averages 9 in. in height, compared to the 11-in. average; soybeans are 3 in. tall, compared to the 4-in. average. Crop growth and development was slowed by a cool, damp start to the week; however, more seasonal weather returned by weeks end. Producers generally reported a need for warmer weather. The number of growing degree days since May 4 was below normal for all reporting stations. The percentage of small grains and row crops rated good to excellent was generally unchanged compared to last week, despite rain falling across much of the state. Only four days were suitable for fieldwork, with 60% of the topsoil having adequate moisture and 6% in surplus.

Missouri: Wet weather continues with an average of 2 in. of rain across the state and 39% of the topsoil having surplus moisture, with 60% in the adequate category. Ninety-three percent of spring tillage is complete, compared to 96% of normal.