Every major crop in Minnesota has blasted past five-year averages in panting progress this year, by a wide margin, according to the latest report of NASS-Minnesota (USDA).

“Corn planting was 73 percent complete, compared to 20 percent last year and 53 percent for the five-year average,” according to the May 7 Minnesota Ag News Crop Weather report. “Twelve percent of corn was emerged. Land prepared for soybeans was 39 percent complete. Nineteen percent of soybeans were planted, compared to 4 percent planted last year and 13 percent average.”

Minnesota even exceeds the average progress of the 18 major corn-producing states, though producers in all theses states are accomplishing planting progress faster than the five-year average. Nationally, corn producers had planted 71 percent of their corn acres as of this past Sunday, which compares to the average, from 2007 through 2011, of 47 percent.

“The weather is one of the most unpredictable aspects of our job, but this early spring warm up, coming along with the moisture we need is putting us in a very good position,” said John Mages, a farmer in Belgrade, Minnesota, and president of Minnesota Corn Growers Association. “Minnesota corn producers are taking the ball and running with it.”