According to USDA, corn and soybean planting progress finished behind last year’s pace but ahead of five year average levels through the week ending May 15th. Corn: Corn plantings as of the week ending May 15th were 75% complete, finishing below last year’s pace of 82% but ahead of the five year average pace of 70%. Of the major corn planting states, plantings trended significantly below the previous year in Michigan and Ohio, while increasing most significantly on a YOY basis in Missouri and North Dakota. Corn plantings were most significantly higher when compared to five year average figures within North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, while finishing lower when compared to five year average figures within Ohio, Michigan and Illinois. Soybeans: Soybean plantings as of the week ending May 15th were 36% complete, finishing below last year’s pace of 41% but ahead of the five year average pace of 32%. Of the major soybean planting states, plantings trended significantly below the previous year in Ohio and Illinois while increasing most significantly on a YOY basis in North Dakota and Missouri. Soybean plantings were most significantly higher when compared to five year average figures within North Dakota and Minnesota, while finishing most significantly lower when compared to five year average figures within Ohio and Illinois.