Both corn and soybean plantings are well behind the average pace, according to Monday's USDA-NASS Crop Progress report.

Corn planting progress was pegged at 23% as of Sunday, up from 11% a week ago but almost half the 42% average progress level at this time in the last five years. Key Corn Belt states were even further behind pace: Iowa's planting progress of 14% as of Sunday is less than one-third of the average planting pace of 46%. Monday's USDA-NASS data also indicate growers in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois have planted 19%, 13% and 36% of the corn crop, respectively, all well behind the typical pace.

Soybean plantings were also well behind pace: Nationwide, three percent of the soybean crop was planted as of Sunday, less than half of the seven-percent five-year average. Southern soybean plantings are closer to pace, with 32% of the Louisiana crop planted, identical to the average pace from 2002 to 2006. Mississippi growers have planted 50% of the crop, 10% behind the average progress level for the last week in April. According to Sunday's data, soybean plantings had yet to begin in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Twenty-six percent of the nation's wheat crop had headed out by Sunday, slightly behind the five-year average of 28% for this week. Most states were near their five-year averages with the exception of Kansas, where seven percent of the wheat had headed out compared to the average pace of 18%. Last year at this time, 44% of the Kansas wheat crop had headed out.

According to Monday's NASS data, sorghum, peanut and cotton plantings were at or near their five-year averages. Spring wheat planting progress was tallied at 34%, compared to the five-year average of 45%.

Both corn and soybean plantings are well behind the average pace, according to Monday's USDA-NASS Crop Progress report.