Farmers had planted more than 50 percent of the American corn crop as of Sunday, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
It is a new corn seeding record.
Only 20 percent of the crop was in the ground at this time last year, when wet, cold conditions kept many producers out of their fields until the end of the first week of May.
This year, drier than normal spring conditions in the American Midwest have allowed farmers to plant steadily for most of the past two weeks.
However, planting is just starting in North and South Dakota and northern Minnesota, with many farmers yet to begin because of low soil temperatures.
Wet soil and cool conditions are also holding Manitoba farmers, while producers have started seeding in southern Alberta and west of the Edmonton-Calgary corridor. However, recent rain and snow in Alberta has slowed progress, according to provincial agriculture departments.
Rain is in the forecast for most of the Canadian Prairies beginning tomorrow.
