According to the USDA, corn and soybean planting progress remained ahead of five year average levels but finished below analyst expectations during the week ending May 24^th. Corn: Corn plantings as of the week ending May 24^th were 88% completed, finishing ahead of last year’s pace of 55% completed and the five year average pace of 82% completed. Corn planting progress finished slightly below average analyst expectations of 90% completed, however. An additional eight percent of the total U.S. corn crop was planted during the week ending May 24^th. Weekly increases in corn plantings on a percentage basis were led by Vermont, followed by Maine and North Dakota. Corn emergence as of the week ending May 24^th was 64% completed, finishing ahead of last year’s pace of 28% completed and the five year average pace of 58% completed. 70% of the current corn crop was identified to be in good or excellent condition as of the week ending May 24^th, with just five percent of the current corn crop being identified as very poor or poor. Soybeans: Soybean plantings as of the week ending May 24^th were 65% completed, finishing ahead of last year’s pace of 26% completed and the five year average pace of 55% completed. Soybean planting progress finished below average analyst expectations of 69% completed, however. An additional 12% of the total U.S. soybean crop was planted during the week ending May 24^th. Weekly increases in soybean plantings on a percentage basis were led by South Dakota and Pennsylvania, followed by North Dakota. Soybean emergence as of the week ending May 24^th was 35% completed, finishing ahead of last year’s pace of nine percent completed and the five year average pace of 27% completed.