Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 4/27/10

The U.S. corn crop was 50 percent planted in the week ended April 25, well beyond the 20 percent planted by this time last year and the five-year average of 22 percent planted by now, according to USDA's weekly crop progress report.

Farmers planted 31 percent of the crop this past week, as just 19 percent of the crop was planted a week ago in the 18 states that planted 92% of last year's corn acreage.

Already 7 percent of the corn crop has emerged, compared to just 2 percent by this time last year and the five-year average of 5 percent emerged by now.

Planting was delayed both last year and in 2008 by cold, wet weather.

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