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Corn Planting Makes Big Jump

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says farmers have exceeded expectations of corn planting progress in the past week. Even with continued rain showers in many areas, farmers planted 24% of the crop since last weeks crop progress report.

"Overall the corn planting progress by May 11 reached 51% nationally," Rippey says. "That compares to the five-year average of 77%. Despite that nearly one-quarter of the crop planted in the last week we do see some delays in the heart of the Midwest."

Cool weather and cool soils have kept corn emergence to 11% which is far behind the five-year average of 33%.

While farmers have been making big strides planting corn, soybeans have made little progress with only 11% of the crop planted so far.