7 Top Corn States Trail 5-Year Planting Pace

Across the country’s top 18 growing states, corn planting hit 40% by May 4, slightly exceeding the five-year average of 39%. Yet seven of those 18 states are lagging behind their individual five-year planting averages.

In which states are farmers behind, and by how much? Here’s a closer look.

Illinois — 12 Points Behind

As of May 4, Illinois farmers had planted just 32% of the state’s corn crop, USDA said. That’s well below the five-year average of 44%. 

Corn planting in the Prairie State started off slow and has fallen increasingly behind average this spring. In the southern part of the state, April rains delayed fieldwork significantly. 

On Monday this week, Illinois agronomist Ryan Gentle said planting is “virtually done” in west central Illinois but described different progress further south because of more rain.

“Once you get south of Springfield and down to [East St. Louis], it is a different story,” Gentle said. “That area is only 30-40% planted, and even less around [East St. Louis]. Some areas down there saw over three inches of rain again last week.”

Kentucky — 12 Points Behind

Kentucky farmers have planted 40% of their crop so far this season, USDA said. The average for this time of year is 52%.

Corn planting in the Bluegrass State has been behind the five-year trend all spring, and the deficit has been in the double digits for three weeks now.

Kentucky had 1.87 inches of precipitation the week ending May 4, USDA said, which is 0.64 inches above normal.

North Carolina — 9 Points Behind

As of the week ending May 4, North Carolina corn growers had planted almost three quarters of their crop. At 73%, it’s second only to Texas (78%) for the highest percentage of corn planted across the top 18 states. 

Still, North Carolina’s corn planting is notably behind the five-year average of 82%, the farthest behind it’s been all season.

Corn emergence in North Carolina is also behind. Just 57% of the crop had emerged by May 4, compared to the five-year average of 62%. 

Wisconsin — 5 Points Behind

Corn planting was 16% complete in Wisconsin as of May 4, five percentage points behind the five-year average, according to USDA. It’s still fairly early for Wisconsin’s planting activity compared to other top states, but the gap between planting progress and the five-year average is growing. 

Agronomist Nick Groth described a wide range of corn planting progress in his state, with “much higher percentages [of corn planted] in the southern part of the state.” 

“In the southern half of Wisconsin, a flurry of planting activity was able to occur over the last week,” Groth said on Monday. He explained that conditions remained dry between April 27 and April 30 in the southern half of the state, which gave growers time to plant “a lot of the corn crop in that area.”

Progress stalled further north though. “Unfortunately the northern half of Wisconsin was hit by pretty substantial rainfall of up to 1.5 inches in areas on Monday, April 28,” Groth said. “This, combined with being wetter to begin with — along with another shot of rain on Thursday, May 1, and cooler temperatures — meant very little field activity occurred in northern Wisconsin last week.” 

Iowa — 4 Points Behind

Almost half of the top corn-growing state’s 2025 crop had been planted as of May 4. At 49%, Iowa’s progress is four percentage points behind the five-year average.

Iowa’s corn-planting progress was a good bit ahead of the five-year average the weeks ending April 20 and April 27, but the trend flipped in the most recent report.

Eric Wilson, an agronomist supporting southern and northeast Iowa, described varied progress across his state. “Aside from northeast Iowa, most growers have much of their crop in the ground and are very positive with how things are progressing,” said Wilson on Sunday. “Northeast Iowa is slower in progress, but this coming week will give them a good opportunity to make significant progress on corn,” he said.

Kelly Garrett grows corn and other crops in western Iowa. On Sunday, the farmer said his operation has been able to stay ahead. “While we have had some decent rain, the early start has allowed us to stay ahead of schedule,” Garret said. “It appears that most operations will finish planting next week,” he added.

Iowa agronomist Logan Dinkla described positive farmer sentiment in his area. “In general, farmers are optimistic and in good spirits with planting progress,” Dinkla said Tuesday. “Especially the ones that took advantage of the early planting window.”

Missouri — 3 Points Behind

Missouri corn growers have 54% of their crop in the ground, shy of the five-year average of 57% 

Corn-planting progress in Missouri has gone back and forth, lagging behind or pulling ahead of the five-year average all spring. Planting was ahead of the five-year trend the week ending April 6, behind the following week, ahead the weeks ending April 20 and 27, and then behind again as of the latest report. 

The state had only 2.5 days suitable for fieldwork in the week ending May 4, which certainly factored into the delayed progress. Statewide, precipitation averaged 1.51 inches, 0.39 inches above normal, USDA said. 

Although corn planting is behind in Missouri, emergence is at 31%, four percentage points ahead of the five-year average.

Tennessee — 1 Point Behind

The final state behind average corn planting is Tennessee. But with 61% of the crop planted, it’s only lagging behind the five-year trend by one percentage point. 

That deficit compared to average is the lowest it’s been since USDA’s first report of the season.