by David Widmar
It seems the first hiccup of the 2019 growing season has been realized – planting delays. For producers waiting to get into the fields, this can be especially frustrating. With May more than half over and the U.S. corn crop less than half planted, persistently wet weather and the potential implications has come to the forefront. This week’s post reviews the latest planting progress data and summarizes a few implications for U.S. corn and soybean production in 2019.
Corn Planting Progress
As of the week of May 13th- the U.S. corn crop was 30% planted. Four times in history corn planting progress has been less than 40% complete in week 19 (Figure 1). When comparing these years with trend-adjusted yields[1], history doesn’t point to large crops. Yields were mostly below-trend, but not always: 1984 (29% planted, 0.6 bushels above trend), 1993 (40% planted, 22 bushels below trend), 1995 (36% planted, 13 bushels below trend), and 2013 (28% planted, 2 bushels below trend).
Thinking about conditions geographically, corn planting progress is slowest in the Eastern Corn Belt. Compared to the last 40 years, planting in Illinois (2nd slowest), Indiana (slowest) Michigan (slowest), and Ohio (slowest) have been hardest hit. Western States- Iowa (6th slowest), Minnesota (3rd slowest), and Nebraska (7th slowest) – have been less impacted[2].
Figure 1. U.S. Corn Planting Progress at Week 19, 1980-2019. Average = 65% (in black). Data Source: USDA NASS.
Potential Corn Yield Impacts
It’s worth noting the USDA’s World Ag Outlook Board includes corn planting progress at May 15th as a variable in a corn yield estimate model they consider. Scott Irwin did a great job summarizing how the slow planting progress might have impacted the USDA’s May WASDE yield estimate. His estimate was that baseline yields – which starts at 176- might be 9.5 bushels per acres lower. His threads before the WASDE report, and after the WASDE- where the USDA didn’t adjust yields – are worth a read. We’re guessing that the USDA’s hesitated to pull 2019 yields lower given what happened in 2013. In that year, when planting progress at week 19 was the slowest on record, final yields were only slightly below trend (2 bushels below).
To summarize the late planting situation for corn, 2019 planting progress has been historically slow. If you were forecasting the probability of corn yields being below the USDA’s baseline of 176 bushels per acre, the delayed planting forecasts would (likely) lead you to lower your forecast. That said, we don’t think the data would suggest that a below-trend (176) yield – based on this information alone- is a 100% certainty.
Corn Prevented Planting Acres
We wrote about prevented acres a few weeks ago, but we think it’s important to review a couple of points. First, prevented planting acres for corn and soybeans have been historically low in recent years. Since 2016, corn prevented planting acres were equal to about 1% of final planted acres. This is much lower than the 12-year average of 1.8%.
When the USDA released it’s March prospective planting estimate, they assumed a more normal level of prevented planting acres. In other words, some of the potential increase from recent years has already been baked-in, so to speak.
The March prospective planting report placed corn acres at 92.8 million acres. Any decrease in corn acres due to prevented planting would likely have to come on prevented planting above something higher than recent years – say 1.8% or so.
Keep in mind that the high-water mark for prevented planting acres in recent years- 2013 – was 3.6 million acres, or 3.8% of total corn planted. A 1 percentage point movement – when expected corn acres are 92.8 million- is roughly equal for 930,000 acres. In other words, even if prevented planting approached 2013 levels, the U.S. would still plant north of 90 million acres of corn in 2019.
Soybean Planting Progress
At first glance, 2019 soybean planted progress- 9% at Week 19- seems more surprising. However, soybean progress has fared better than corn.
Since 1980, soybeans have, on average, been 22% planted at week 19. Nationally, this is the fifth slowest planting pace for soybeans (compared to third slowest for corn).
Again, geography plays a role with Illinois (second slowest), Indiana (slowest), and Ohio (slowest) feeling the most pressure.
Figure 2. U.S. Soybean Planting Progress at Week 19, 1980-2019. Average = 22% (in black). Data Source: USDA NASS.
Potential Soybean Yield Impacts
The yield impact of later planting soybeans is less clear. Specifically, the USDA’s model for forecasting soybean yields does not include a planting progress variable. We know that, at the field-level- planting too late impacts yields. However, the implication – at least at the national level- is that late planting doesn’t have explanatory power for national soybean yields. In its report, the USDA attributes this to soybean’s “wider window for soybean reproduction.”
Soybean Prevented Planting Acres
As was the case with corn, soybean acres filed as prevented planting have recently been below average. Since 2016, prevented planting has accounted for less than 0.5% (half of 1%) of soybean acres. The average, however, is 1.2%. Given the USDA’s prospective planting report has built in an expectation closer to this average, this might limit the impact of an uptick in prevented planting acres in 2019 (compared to the last three years) on USDA forecasts (and market responses).
What about Corn Acres Switching?
Something we often hear as planting weather delays set in is the idea producers will switch acres planned for corn into soybeans. This makes senses anecdotally, but it’s worth stepping back a bit and considering the data. Since 2007, prevented planting acres of corn (1.8% of planted acres) has been larger than that of soybeans (1.2% of planted acres). In fact, in many years prevented planting corn acres well-outpaced soybeans. This piece of data seems to contradict the idea that producer will just roll late corn acres into soybeans. We aren’t saying it doesn’t or won’t happen, but be careful with that assumption.
Wrapping it Up
For a host of reasons, 2019 is setting up to be a memorable one. With respect to the late planting season, there are a couple of key points to keep in mind.
First, planting pace is slow, but not “off the charts.” Weather delays have been more painful for corn than soybeans. Also, the Eastern Corn Belt has been harder hit.
Second, delayed planting has set the stage for potential corn yield reductions at the national level. That said, below-trend yields in 2019 are far from a certainty. Summer weather is still in play. For soybeans, the impact on national yields isn’t clear. Of course, it will be late summer until the first firm yield forecasts are available.
Prevented planting acres are a second area that could trim 2019 production. Keep in mind there are 1) changes from recent years and 2) changes from long-run averages. The USDA March prospective planting estimates have included assumption closer to long-run averages. Also, corn has, historically, seen more prevented planting acres than soybeans (when measured as a percent of planted acres). It’ll be the June 28th Acreage Report when we get a closer, updated look at potential acreage impacts.
Finally, as crop insurance planting dates approach, many producers will have difficult production decisions to make. The first step is reaching out to their crop insurance providers (click here for final crop insurance dates for corn and soybeans). At this point, it’s also not clear how any potential USDA trade aid payments might fit into prevented planting decision.
In summary, weather delays will force many producers to face “to plant, or not to plant” decisions as corn final planting dates approach. May 25 (Western Corn Belt), May 31 (Central Corn Belt), and June 5 (Eastern Corn Belt) are key dates. At the national level, the impacts on 2019 production are far from clear and it will be many weeks – if not months – before the scale is known.
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[1] These data were trend-adjusted yields since 1960. This is an important point that we’ll discuss in an upcoming post.
[2] Speaking of 2013, the Western States got hit hardest in 2013. Specifically, 2013 was the slowest corn planting pace for Iowa and Minnesota.