Cool, wet spring dampening corn crop hopes

updated 5:31 p.m. ET May 30, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - In a year of rising food prices and high fuel costs that are creating pressure to produce more ethanol, the country could really use a perfect corn crop.

So far, it isn't happening.

And depending on the right mix of sun, heat, rain and cool, it could drive prices up even further. That may mean consumers will be spending even more for groceries like soda, cookies, cake or anything that contains high fructose corn syrup and for any meat that relies on corn as animal feed.

A cold, wet spring put crop planting weeks behind schedule across much of the U.S. Corn Belt and drastically slowed growth where corn is already in the ground.

Now, farmers in parts of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana are replanting corn that either sat under water in flooded fields too long to germinate or can't break through sodden, compacted soils. And the cool, soggy weather continues, the last thing a heat-loving crop like corn needs.

"It's starting to look like a very difficult year," University of Illinois agronomy professor Emerson Nafziger said.

Now, farmers and crop experts say it's up to the weather to deliver an ideal growing season to make up for the slow start.

Slow start in key corn states Cool, wet weather has slowed corn planting this spring across much of the Corn Belt, raising questions about the crop’s size and quality. Planting progress so far this year compared to last in the top five corn states: — Iowa: Top corn producer in 2007 with 13.85 million harvested acres. Farmers have planted 93 percent of this year’s expected crop, compared to 97 percent at this time last year. But some of this year’s corn has been lost to weather and is being replanted. — Illinois: No. 2 corn producer in 2007 at 13.05 million acres. So far, 87 percent of this year’s crop is planted, and some has to be replanted. Farmers had all but finished at this point last year. — Nebraska: Third in corn production last year at 9.2 million acres. Farmers have 96 percent of their crop planted, the same as this point last year. But experts say cool, wet weather has slowed growth. — Minnesota: No. 4 corn state in 2007 with 7.8 million acres. 2008 crop is 95 percent planted. Farmers were essentially finished a year ago. — Indiana: No. 5 corn producer in 2007, 6.37 million acres. Farmers have 77 percent of their expected crop planted and were all but done at this point last year.

"I haven't given up hope yet," said Roger Elmore, a corn expert at Iowa State University.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said this week 88 percent of the corn crop has been planted. Last year at this time, farmers were all but finished. This year's figure doesn't account for farmers who have to replant — that number won't be known for possibly months.

The later corn is planted, the less it will yield, Nafziger said. Corn planted in mid June in central Illinois, for instance, is likely to produce only about half what it would if planted in early May.

Late planting and USDA projections that farmers will plant less corn this year — in spite of heavy demand for corn to make ethanol, animal feed and other products — have propped up corn prices, keeping them near record highs.

Those prices, while potentially adding to already high prices for food, offer farmers like Terry Bartley the prospect of a lucrative year.

Now, though, Bartley is replanting almost half his Illinois crop — 195 acres — costing an extra $45 to $50 an acre. That will take at least $8,700 out of his pocket now and he stands to lose even more down the road because the late planting means less corn will be produced.

"I think most of the guys in this area are going to have to replant every acre of it," the 46-year-old said from Iuka, about 75 miles east of St. Louis.

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