Special Edition of Agriculture Economic Tidbits

Monday’s crop progress reports showed 70 percent of Nebraska’s estimated corn acres and 40 percent of the estimated soybean acres were planted as of May 20. In comparison, the 5-year planting progress averages are 86 percent for corn and 54 percent for soybeans. In March the USDA estimated 9.7 million acres of corn would be planted and 5.4 million acres of soybeans in Nebraska.

Thus, 2.9 million acres of corn and 3.2 million acres of soybeans remained unplanted as of May 20. Planting has progressed further in Nebraska relative to other major crop producing states, but farmers are still well behind the normal rate of planting.

For crop insurance purposes, the final planting date for corn in Nebraska is May 25. Many issues surround this year’s delayed planting, the final planting date, and the decisions farmers and landowners need to make yet this planting season. This special edition of Agriculture Economic Tidbits seeks to provide information to help farmers and landowners in their decision-making. The special edition contains information on prevented planting, options for famers and landowners unable to plant corn by May 25, and the overall yield implications of delayed planting.

Farmers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agents to discuss options before making any decisions on corn acres unable to be planted by the final planting date of May 25.