According to USDA, corn planting progress remained below previous year levels through the week ending Apr 29^th. Corn: Corn plantings as of the week ending Apr 29^th were 17% complete, finishing below last year’s pace of 32% and the five year average pace of 27%. The majority of corn plantings have been completed throughout the states of Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina and Missouri as of the week ending Apr 29^th. An additional 12% of the total U.S. corn crop was planted during the week ending Apr 29^th. Weekly increases in corn plantings on a percentage basis were led by Missouri, followed by Illinois and Oregon. The Apr 29^th weekly increase in corn plantings of 12% was slightly below the historical average seasonal increase of 12.7%. The 28% increase in corn plantings throughout the state of Illinois was the second largest seasonal gain experienced throughout the past 12 years, however.