Thirty-one percent of the intended corn acreage has emerged compared with 13 percent last year. Fifty-two percent of the soybean acreage is planted compared with 26 percent a year ago and 14 percent for the average. Other activities during the week included tilling soils, hauling grain to market, applying anhydrous ammonia, preparing equipment, spraying and hauling manure. Twenty-nine percent of the wheat is headed compared with 25 percent last year and 13 percent for the average. Winter wheat condition is rated 71 percent good to excellent compared with 79 percent a year ago at this time.
Livestock are in mostly good condition.
Calving remains active. Corn develops faster when temperatures are warmer and more slowly when temperatures are cooler. For example, a string of warmer than normal days in late spring will encourage faster leaf development than normal. Another example is that a cooler than normal grain filling period will delay the calendar date of grain maturity. The calculation method most commonly used in the U.S. for determining heat unit accumulation relative to corn phenology is the formula first suggested by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1969 and labeled as the 'Modified Growing Degree Day' formula in 1971.