Corn Hitting Final Planting Dates

OMAHA (DTN) -- Farmers in most of the larger corn-producing states in the Midwest and Plains states appear on schedule to meet their crop insurance final planting dates to protect their coverage levels.

Several major corn-planting states are now in the crop-insurance late-planting window after May 25 and other states will move into that late-planting period after May 31. The USDA NASS weekly Crop Progress report shows planting season has largely stayed on schedule in the Corn Belt.

"Final planting date" effectively means it is the last date to plant a crop with full crop-insurance coverage. Each day of planting after that results in a loss of 1% of crop insurance coverage.

When it comes to corn, some states have a late-planting period with a 20-day late planting window and others have a 25-day late-planting period.

After that late-planting period ends, the insurance coverage drops to 55% of the original guarantee for corn.

MAY 25 REGION

Producers in these states are already in the late-planting period.

The final corn planting date for corn was May 25 in Kansas, Nebraska, parts of Missouri, most of South Dakota and North Dakota and northern-tier counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The May 27 Crop Progress report showed Nebraska producers had planted 95% of their expected corn acreage, while South Dakota was at 92%.

North Dakota was at 78%, which is ahead of last year's pace, but reflects roughly one-in-five corn acres in North Dakota missed the window for the final planting date.

Looking at the forecast, DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick noted on Tuesday a new weather system could move into the Northern Plains, "bringing widespread showers through the rest of the week." That could hamper farmers trying to get those last acres in the ground.

An 80% yield or revenue policy for corn in these states falls to a maximum 73% coverage levels on acres not planted by June 1.

The final planting period for corn ends June 14 in Kansas and Nebraska.

MAY 31 REGION

Saturday will be the final planting date for farmers planting corn in Iowa, most of Minnesota and Wisconsin, eastern Missouri, four southeastern counties in North Dakota and a swath of counties in southeastern South Dakota, as well as most of Kentucky. The bottom tier of counties in Illinois also fall into the May 31 region.

According to the May 27 USDA Crop Progress report, Iowa farmers this week were already 95% planted on their expected corn acres, while Minnesota was at 97%. Missouri farmers also show 94% of their expected corn acres are planted.

Kentucky reports 70% of its corn crop is planted, which is 2% behind last year's pace.

JUNE 5 STATES

Farmers across most of Illinois, as well as Indiana, Ohio and Michigan don't hit their final planting date for corn until June 5. The late-planting period stretches to June 30.

As of May 25, Illinois producers had 82% of their corn acres planted, while Indiana and Michigan were both at 76%. One state coming in behind some of the others with corn planting was Ohio at 54% planted, which is down from 74% for the same week last year.

SOYBEANS

Final planting dates for soybeans don't start in Midwest and Plains states until June 10.

For soybeans, the yield guarantee falls 1% for 25 days and coverage then drops to 60% of the original guarantee.

June 10 is the final planting date for soybeans in North Dakota and South Dakota; Nebraska, Minnesota and most of Wisconsin all have a June 10 final planting date for soybeans.

June 15 is the soybean final planting date for Iowa, Michigan northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

June 20 is the final soybean planting date for Indiana, Ohio, most of Illinois and most of Missouri.

PREVENTED PLANTING ACRES

As crop insurance protection declines and conditions become more complicated in some areas of the country, it typically leads to the fear of prevented-planting acres.

Prevented planting (pp) acres fluctuate year to year, depending on weather challenges. In 2019, a record year for flooding, there were 19.6 million acres of pp. In 2021, farmers reported just 2 million pp acres. Last year, farmers reported 4.72 million acres of pp, up 1.14 million acres from 2023 totals.

Producers are advised to call their crop insurance agents immediately when looking at a prevented-planting situation. The Farm Service Agency deadline to record prevent-plant to FSA is 15 days after the final planting date.

Also see, "USDA Crop Progress: Corn 87% Planted, Rated 68% in Good-to-Excellent Condition; Soybeans 76% Planted as of May 25," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN

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