Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

Warmer, dryer weather reached much of the Midwest last week, while corn began to emerge in southern states, according to the latest statistics by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin reported that overall corn planting had reached 11 percent, still behind the historical average for the third week of April. Planting had begun in all major corn producing states except for Minnesota and North Dakota. Four southern states reported corn emerging, with the percentage of the crop emerged running ahead of historical averages in North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Replanting has begun in some southern areas where the crop had been injured by below-normal temperatures or heavy rains.

Crop moisture is rated as “favorably” or “abnormally” moist throughout the Midwest and South, with the long-term drought conditions in the mid-South and western Plains rated as improving.