100% of This State’s Corn Has Emerged; These 2 States May Be Next

North Carolina farmers reported 100% of their 2025 corn crop emerged the week ended June 15, according to USDA’s latest Crop Progress report. Minnesota and South Dakota corn emergence rates are close behind at 98%. The report said 94% of the national corn crop had emerged.

North Carolina

North Carolina was the first state to report 100% corn emergence this year. This is on pace with the five-year average and last year at this time.

Kevin Matthews farms in northwestern North Carolina, near East Bend. Recent weather can be described as “rain, rain, rain,” he said. However, “after last year’s drought, I’m not complaining,” he added.

Matthews said, “Lots of areas around us have drowned out spots that will not get planted. Fortunately, we have very little of that on our farm.”

In his region there’s still corn being planted, some is tasseling, and “all the stages in between.” Matthews told Successful Farming, “The early corn looks good. The young corn has struggled due to excessive rains, but its potential remains good.”

For the week ended June 15, USDA rated the state’s crop 1% very poor, 3% poor, 14% fair, 65% good, and 17% excellent.

Minnesota

Minnesota farmers reported 98% of this year’s corn crop had emerged by the week ended June 15. This is slightly ahead of the 95% five-year average and 6 percentage points ahead of this time last year.

Tim Dahl is an agronomist for Syngenta working across southern Minnesota. He told Successful Farming, “The corn crop looks really good in Minnesota the first half of June.”

USDA rated the state’s crop 1% very poor, 4% poor, 20% fair, 61% good, and 14% excellent.

Dahl added, “With the early planting and dry weather after preemergence herbicide applications, there were a few weed escapes (especially in the western half of the state).” He said, “Timely post herbicide applications with strong residual control are very important. We have a long time period where Tall Waterhemp will continue to emerge.”

South Dakota

In South Dakota, 98% of the corn crop had emerged by the week ended June 15. This is 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Last year at this time 89% of South Dakota corn had emerged.

USDA rated the state’s crop 2% very poor, 7% poor, 27% fair, 57% good, and 7% excellent in the latest Crop Progress report.

Late last week northeastern portions of the state were hammered with precipitation causing local flooding, erosion, and crop damage. Bridget Readel, Ag Director for Weather & Ag In Focus, a program of WDAY radio, reported more than 4 inches of rain fell in roughly 24 hours near Britton, South Dakota. “It’s messy,” she said during the June 13 show.

Iowa Environmental Mesonet maps confirmed the heavy precipitation across portions of Brown, Marshall, Roberts, and Grant counties.

Other States

Corn emergence rates across the other top corn-growing states were reported as follows:

• Colorado – 88%
• Illinois – 93%
• Indiana – 89%
• Iowa – 97%
• Kansas – 88%
• Kentucky – 84%
• Michigan – 92%
• Missouri – 97%
• Nebraska – 97%
• North Dakota – 89%
• Ohio – 86%
• Pennsylvania – 72%
• Tennessee – 92%
• Texas – 96%
• Wisconsin – 91%