Corn Hitting Final Planting Dates

OMAHA (DTN) -- A large share of corn production has now moved into the late planting period during the past week.

There is already a lot of social media chatter from farmers and analysts about the dreaded acronym "PP" -- or prevented planting.

Weather could start affecting crop insurance coverage for producers more during the next week. As DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick noted Friday, there is more widespread heavy rain headed for the Midwest. Read more about that here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

LATE PLANTING PERIOD

Under crop insurance rules, the insurance guarantee for corn drops 1% each day for the next 20-25 days after the final planting date.

Some states have a late planting period with a 20-day 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. Essentially, an 80% revenue policy would only cover 44% of the original guarantee after the end of the late planting period.

A crop that needs to be replanted can be done up to 10 days past the final planting date. It's recommended that farmers check with their insurance provider to determine if replanting a field is practical.

As DTN has noted in the past, it's important for producers to keep good planting records. USDA's Risk Management Agency and the Farm Service Agency have different deadlines, different forms to file, and the rules are very specific about dates, acres, crops and historic yields.

Final planting dates for soybeans don't start in Midwestern and Plains states until June 10. For soybeans, the yield guarantee falls 1% per day for 25 days, and coverage then drops to 60% of the original guarantee.

MAY 31 REGION

Farmers on Friday reached the final corn planting date for corn in Iowa, most of Minnesota and Wisconsin, eastern Missouri, four southeastern counties in North Dakota and a larger swath of southeastern South Dakotas, as well as most of Kentucky.

Looking at the May 28 USDA Crop Progress report, Iowa and Kentucky were the only ones behind their five-year planting averages.

Iowa's corn planting was at 88% on May 26. Based on last year's 13.1 million acres of corn, that's about 1.57 million acres that still needed to be planted. A good share of the state has seen persistent rain as well.

Minnesota was at 89% planted, while Wisconsin was 78% and Kentucky 73% planted.

The final planting period stretches until June 25. Afterward, corn insurance coverage is capped at 55% of the original level.

MAY 25 REGION

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.

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

Overall, most states were slightly ahead of their five-year planting average on May 26, though Nebraska was a point behind schedule.

USDA's May 28 Crop Progress report pegged corn planting in North Dakota at 75% on May 26, while Kansas was at 85%. South Dakota was at 84%, Missouri was at 87% and Nebraska was 91% planted.

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

JUNE 5 STATES

Farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan don't hit their final planting date until June 5. The late planting period stretches to June 30.

So far, none of these states are behind their five-year planting pace, according to USDA's Crop Progress reports.

TAKING PREVENTED PLANTING ON CORN

The best advice is to call your crop insurance agent immediately. The Farm Service Agency deadline to record corn prevented planting to FSA is 15 days after the final planting date.

Producers are only eligible to take PP on the average number of corn acres planted in the last four years.

Find RMA details on Prevented Planting Coverage here: https://www.rma.usda.gov/…

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

Follow him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN

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