9 Kernels About U.S. Corn Crops So Far This Year

The corn growing season is well underway across the top 18 corn growing states. Here are the details published from the May 12 Crop Progress report.

1. Six states have less than half their corn planted.

Farmers in Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have less than half of their 2025 corn crop in the ground. This is not unusual in these northern states. In fact, of these states, only Ohio corn planting progress is behind the five-year average pace.

Nick Groth is an agronomist in Wisconsin. “I don’t think any farmers feel behind, yet,” he said Monday. “The northern half of Wisconsin will have to push hard to get acres in ahead of predicted rain on Thursday, but if they can get a good amount in, they’ll be on track.”

2. Planting progress surged more than 30 points in South Dakota.

Corn planting progress reached 69% the week ended May 11, according to USDA. That’s up significantly from 39% the week prior. Last year at this time just 30% of South Dakota’s corn crop had been planted. The five-year average is 43%.

3. North Carolina leads corn planting progress with 86% planted.

North Carolina farmers have well over three-quarters of the corn crop planted so far this year. Progress jumped 13 points from 73% the week ended May 11, said USDA.

However, this corn planting pace is behind the five-year average of 92% and last year at this time when 94% had been planted.

4. Ohio has the smallest percentage of its corn crop planted.

With just 25% of the state’s corn crop in the ground the week, Ohio has the slowest planting pace of the top growing states. With just 1 day during the week ended May 11 suitable for field work, farmers struggled to plant much.

Last year at this time corn planting progress was 10 percentage points higher at 35%. The five-year average is 27%.

5. USDA says more than a quarter of the U.S. corn crop has emerged.

The most recent Crop Progress report pegged corn emergence at 28%, up 17 points from the week prior. Last year at this time 21% of U.S. corn had emerged. That’s equal to the five-year average emergence pace for U.S. corn.

6. Texas has the largest percentage of its corn emerged.

USDA said 79% of Texas corn had emerged the week ended May 11. This is up 10 points from 2024 and 11 points above the five-year average.

7. Just 2% of Colorado corn has emerged.

Colorado has the smallest percentage of its corn crop emerged, said USDA. This is the first week any 2025 corn emergence in the state was reported. Last year at this time 4% of Colorado corn was out of the ground. The five-year average is 5%.

8. At least half the corn in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas has emerged.

These three states were the first to report more than 50% corn emergence. North Carolina reported 75% of the crop was out of the ground. In Tennessee, 51% of corn had emerged. USDA said 79% of Texas corn had emerged.

9. Corn emergence surged in Minnesota.

Minnesota corn emergence jumped from 3% to 30% the week ended May 11. Unseasonably hot, dry weather contributed to substantial planting progress and the surge in emergence.

“Stand counts look decent,” said Minnesota agronomist Tim Dahl on Monday. “It would be nice to get some moisture to help activate pre-emergence herbicides.”