USDA Weekly Crop Progress

By Cheri Zagurski
DTN Managing Editor
and
Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter

OMAHA (DTN) -- The week ended May 8 was quite productive for U.S. farmers, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress report. Corn planting advanced by nearly 20 percentage points and soybean planting leapt ahead 15 percentage points.

Corn is 64% planted, compared to 45% last week, 69% last year and a five-year average of 50%. Emergence is pegged at 27%, compared to 13% last week, 23% last year and 17% on average. "Monday's report should be viewed as bearish for corn," said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman.

Soybean planting is 23% complete, compared to 8% last week, 26% last year and a 16% average. "Monday's report should be viewed as bearish for soybeans," Hultman said.

Winter wheat is 57% headed, compared to 42% last week, 52% last year and 44% on average. Winter wheat condition improved slightly to 62% good to excellent compared to 61% last week.

"USDA said 62% of winter wheat was rated good to excellent, resulting in a one-point increase in the DTN Winter Wheat Condition Index to 158," Hultman said. "DTN's index is up from 106 a year ago and well above the five-year average of 72. Monday's report is bearish for winter wheat."

Spring wheat is 77% planted and 39% emerged, compared with 54% and 22% last week, 84% and 47% last year and 51% and 25% on average. "Monday's report is bearish for spring wheat," Hultman said.

Cotton is 26% planted, compared to 16% last week, 23% last year and a 26% average. Rice is 82% planted and 67% emerged, compared to 72% and 55% last week, 77% and 48% last year, and 68% and 50% on average. Rice condition was reported for the first time this growing season at 57% good to excellent.

Sorghum is 30% planted compared to 23% last week, 31% last year and a 31% average. Oats are 88% planted and 70% emerged, compared to 78% and 56% last week, 91% and 68% last year and 74% and 56% averages. Oats condition was reported for the first time this growing season at 72% good to excellent. Barley is 79% planted and 47% emerged, compared to 57% and 29% last week, 84% and 53% last year, and 60% and 30% averages.

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The following are highlights from weekly crop progress reports issued by National Ag Statistics Service offices in individual states. To view the full reports from each state, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/…

Colorado

Planting activities progressed ahead of average for most crops while development was limited by cooler temperatures in some instances. Precipitation occurred in varying amounts primarily in northern counties, delaying fieldwork in these localities. In eastern Colorado, several strong storms produced locally heavy rainfall, hail and tornadoes. Days suitable for fieldwork was 4.7 for the current week, up from 3.9 days the previous week. Topsoil moisture is 2% very poor, 8% short, 78% adequate and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture was 4% very short, 15% short, 74% adequate and 7% surplus. Barley was 92% planted with a five year average of 85% and 41% emerged with a five year average of 50%. Corn was 36% planted with a five-year average of 45% and 1% was emerged compared with a five-year average of 6%. Sorghum was 2% planted with a five-year average of 7%. Spring wheat was 64% planted with a five-year average of 70% and 29% was emerged compared to a five-year average of 36%. Winter wheat was 79% jointed with 60% five-year average and 8% was headed with a five-year average of 14%. Winter wheat crop condition was 1% very poor, 11% fair, 53% good and 13% excellent.

Illinois

Cool, wet conditions have slowed corn planting and delayed soybean planting for some producers. Statewide, the average temperature was 57.3 degrees, 1.2 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.43 inch, 0.60 inch below normal. There were 2.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 8. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at 2% short, 72% adequate, and 26% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated at 4% short, 79% adequate and 17% surplus. Corn planted was at 78%, compared to the five-year average of 56%. Corn emerged was at 46%, compared to 34% last year and the five-year average of 27%. Soybeans planted was at 19%. Soybeans emerged was at 1%, compared to 7% last year. Winter wheat headed jumped to 65%, up 36 percentage points from last week. Winter wheat condition was rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 30% fair, 53 percent good and 12% excellent. Oats planted reached 91%, compared to the five-year average of 85%. Oat condition was 1% very poor, 2% poor, 14% fair, 75% good and 8% excellent.

Indiana

Scattered rain showers and persistent cool temperatures continued to slow planting progress for farmers. Much of the cool temperatures came early in the week, eventually giving way to more favorable temperatures by the weekend. Topsoil moisture was 0% very poor, 1% short, 56% adequate and 43% surplus. Subsoil moisture was 1% very poor, 2% short, 67% adequate and 30% surplus. Statewide, average temperatures were 2.5 degrees below normal at 55.0 degrees. Some pockets of frost were reported. Statewide, precipitation was 0.68 inch, below normal by 0.27 inch. There were 1.7 days available for fieldwork for the week ending May 8, down 1.1 days from the previous week. Corn planting was 38% complete with a five-year average of 39%. Corn emerged was at 15% with a five-year average of 15%. Soybeans planted was at 11% with a five year of 17%. Winter wheat jointing at 88% with a five-year average of 75%. Winter wheat headed is 33% with 20% a five-year average. Winter wheat crop condition are 1% very poor, 3% poor, 18% fair, 59% good and 19% excellent.

Iowa

A dry week across much of Iowa allowed planting to progress for the week. Statewide, there were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork, up nearly two full days from last week. Dry and sunny weather aided crop emergence, when compared to last week. Topsoil moisture levels rated 0% very short, 2% short, 80% adequate and 18% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0% very short, 1% short, 84% adequate and 15% surplus. The western third of Iowa reported 20% or more with surplus subsoil moisture. Eighty percent of the corn crop has been planted, a day ahead of last year, and eight days ahead of the five-year average. Farmers in north-central and central Iowa have already planted over 90% of their corn crop. Twenty-eight percent of corn has emerged, two days ahead of last year, and five days ahead of the average. Twenty-nine percent of the soybean acreage has been planted, five days ahead of normal. Planting of the state's oat crop is nearing completion. Oats emerged reached 84%, three days ahead of the previous year and nine days ahead of the average. Oat condition was rated 1% very poor to poor, 26% fair and 74% good to excellent.

Kansas

Temperatures were near normal this past week. The state received up to 1 inch of rain, with the southeast and southwest counties remaining dry. There were 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 2% very short, 6% short, 80% adequate and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 3% very short, 12% short, 80% adequate and 5% surplus. Winter wheat condition was rated 2% very poor, 8% poor, 36% fair, 47% good and 7% excellent. Winter wheat headed was 73%, ahead of 62% last year, and well ahead of 46% average. Coloring was 1%. Corn condition was rated 65% good to excellent. Corn planted was 63%, near 62% last year and 59% average. Emerged was 38%, near 34% last year, but ahead of 28% average. Soybeans planted was 6%, near 10% last year, but behind 11% average. Sorghum planted was 1%, near 2% last year and 3% average. Cotton planted was 1%, near 4% last year, but behind 7% average.

Michigan

There were 3.4 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the past week. Cooler, wet weather early in the week gave way to warmer drier weather by week's end. Topsoil moisture was 1% very poor, 4% short, 55% adequate and 40% surplus. Subsoil moisture was 1% very poor, 6% poor, 19% fair, 60% good and 14% excellent. Recent frosts in the north convinced corn growers to either hold off planting or plant in less-than-ideal conditions. Corn planted was 18% completed compared to a five-year average of 28%. Corn was 2% emerged with a five-year average of 5%. Oat and soybean planting continued on well-drained soils. Oats planted was 47% complete with a five-year average of 64%. Oats emerged was 16% while the five-year average is 31%. Soybeans planted was at 7% with a five-year average of 12%. Fertilizing and spraying of winter wheat continued as conditions allowed; wheat continued to be in generally good condition except in areas near standing water or where nitrogen application was delayed. Winter wheat crop condition was 72% good to excellent. Other activities for the week included fertilizer, lime, and manure spreading, picking rocks, cutting firewood, weed spraying, burndown herbicide, secondary tillage, and fixing equipment.

Minnesota

Warm and dry weather across much of Minnesota created near-optimal conditions for fieldwork during the week. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Planting proceeded rapidly, with 30% of the total corn acreage, 40% of the total soybean acreage, and nearly 25% of the total spring wheat acreage planted during the week. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short, 17% short, 76% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% very short, 11% short, 80% adequate and 7% surplus. Eighty-nine percent of Minnesota's corn crop has been planted, 17 days ahead of the five-year average, but two days behind last year. Twenty-five percent of the corn crop has emerged, a week ahead of average. Forty-six percent of the soybean crop has been planted, 12 days ahead of average, but three days behind last year. Spring wheat planting was 87% complete, 17 days ahead of average, but nine days behind last year. Forty-eight percent of the spring wheat crop had emerged, 12 days ahead of average. Seventy-one percent of the oat crop had emerged, over two weeks ahead of the average. The first oat condition rating of the year was estimated at 81% good to excellent. The barley crop was 81% planted and 37% emerged.

Missouri

Drier weather and ideal temperatures allowed for fieldwork to progress this past week. Temperatures averaged 59.4 degrees, 1.2 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.09 inch statewide, 1.04 inches below normal. There were 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending May 8. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 3% very short, 9% short, 77% adequate and 11% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 3% very short, 11% short, 81% adequate and 5% surplus. Corn planting was 94% complete, 22 percentage points ahead of last year and 30 percentage points ahead the five-year average. Corn emerged progressed to 76%, 39 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Soybean planting progressed to 23% complete. Cotton planting was 90% complete, 61 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Rice planting progressed to 98% complete, and rice emerged progressed to 87%. Wheat headed reached 79%, compared to 47% for the five-year average. Winter wheat condition was rated 68% good to excellent.

Nebraska

Dry conditions prevailed the first part of this past week, allowing producers to get back into fields after midweek; however, widespread rainfall was reported late in the week, shutting down activities. Rainfall accumulations of 1 or more inches were common in panhandle, central and southeastern counties. Temperatures were near normal. Standing water in low-lying areas made portions of fields inaccessible. Wheat producers in southern areas were having fields sprayed to control rust. There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 3% short, 81% adequate and 15% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% short, 87% adequate and 8% surplus. Corn planted was at 53%, behind the five-year average of 59%, and emerged was at 15%, equal to average. Sorghum planted was at 5%, near 9% average. Soybeans planted was at 13%, behind 21% both last year and average. Winter wheat jointed was at 81%, well ahead of 54% average, and headed was at 10%, near 8% average. Winter wheat condition was rated 66% good to excellent.

North Dakota

Dry conditions allowed producers to make good planting progress this past week. With the exception of some isolated areas in the south-central part of the state, no moisture was received. Even though producers did benefit from the dry conditions to plant their crops, more moisture is needed to aid germination. Temperatures were 3 to 9 degrees above normal across much of the state. There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 18% short, 78% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 16% short, 81% adequate and 2% surplus. Winter wheat jointed was 33%, near 29% last year. Winter wheat condition was rated 70% good to excellent. Durum wheat planted was 32%, ahead of 22% for the five-year average, and emerged was 8%, near 6% average. Spring wheat planted was 69%, well ahead of 39% average, and emerged was 27%, ahead of 16% average. Corn planted was 51%, well ahead of 27% average, and emerged was 4%, near 3% average. Soybeans planted was 25%, ahead of 9% average. Canola planted was 36%, ahead of 22% average, and emerged was 3%.

Ohio

The cold, wet conditions continued this past week, keeping fieldwork to a minimum. There were 1.1 days suitable for fieldwork for the week. While some planting of corn, soybeans and oats occurred in the most southern parts of the state, most growers were kept from planting due to saturated fields and standing water. There were some reports of hail, mainly along the I-77 corridor south of Canton to the River Valley. For most growers, the only activities they were able to work on were spraying weeds and applying fertilizer. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 1% short, 54% adequate and 45% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1% short, 65% adequate and 34% surplus. Corn was 30% planted, behind the five-year average of 35%, while 12% was emerged, ahead of the average pace of 9%. Soybeans were 8% planted, behind the average of 14%, and none of the crop had emerged yet as of Sunday. Winter wheat was 87% jointing and 14% headed, ahead of the average of 5%. Winter wheat condition was rated 82% good to excellent.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma experienced a break from the rain over this past week. Most of the state has received some rainfall, but the southeastern half has gotten the most moisture. Precipitation averaged 0.11 inch across the state, ranging from 0.01 inch in the northeast district to 0.36 inch in the southeast district. Statewide temperatures averaged in the low 60s, with the lowest recording of 32 degrees at Boise City on May 2 and the highest recording of 91 degrees at Hollis on May 8. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 4% very short, 19% short, 73% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3% very short, 18% short, 75% adequate and 4% surplus. Corn planted reached 63%, down down 11 points from normal, and corn emerged reached 43%, down 4 points from normal. Sorghum planted reached 24%, up 4 points from normal. Soybeans seeded reached 21%, up 6 points from normal. Winter wheat headed reached 92%, up 7 points from normal. Canola blooming reached 94%, down 3 points from normal. Wheat condition was rated 65% good to excellent.

South Dakota

Fieldwork resumed for most parts of the state with warmer, drier weather this past week. Planting progressed well for most locations under sunny skies and above-average temperatures. However, planting progress was slowed in some south-central and southeast locations that remained too wet for fieldwork. There were 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 6% short, 81% adequate and 13% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 9% short, 82% adequate and 8% surplus. Winter wheat jointed was at 49% and headed was at 1%, equal to the five-year average. Winter wheat condition was rated 73% good to excellent. Corn planted was at 39%, near 42% average, and emerged was at 4%, slightly behind the average of 8%. Spring wheat planted was at 92%, ahead of 76% average, and emerged was at 75%, well ahead of 41% average. Spring wheat condition was rated 71% good to excellent. Soybeans planted was at 10%, equal to the average.

Texas

Dry and windy conditions prevailed across much of the state this past week. Central Texas, the Coastal Bend and east Texas received up to 2 inches of rain, while large portions of the Panhandle and south Texas received trace amounts of precipitation. Areas of southeast Texas and the Upper Coast recorded up to 4 inches of rainfall. Later in the week, warmer temperatures began to move across the state. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 6% very short, 26% short, 54% adequate and 14% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5% very short, 19% short, 63% adequate and 13% surplus. Corn was 69% planted, behind the average pace of 78%, and 57% was emerged, behind the average of 63%. Corn condition was rated 82% good to excellent. Cotton was 18% planted and 4% squaring. Sorghum was 60% planted and 40% emerged. Soybeans were 60% planted, behind the average of 65%, and 40% were emerged, near the average of 42%. Winter wheat was 83% headed, ahead of the average pace of 77%. Winter wheat condition was rated 49% good to excellent.

Wisconsin

Spring planting surged ahead this past week thanks to excellent weather. Showers and thunderstorms interrupted fieldwork midweek, and some frosty nights were reported in northern Wisconsin. But a warm, clear weekend improved field conditions for much of the state. Though reporters on the Lake Michigan shoreline continue to report cool and wet conditions, many other areas of the state could use additional rains. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated with 1% very short, 10% short, 79% adequate and 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 7% short, 85% adequate and 8% surplus. Corn planted was at 56% complete, 10 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn emerged was at 6%, four days ahead of the five-year average. Eighteen percent of the state's expected soybean acres have been planted, slightly behind last year, but a week ahead of the five-year average. Winter wheat was rated 85% in good-to-excellent condition statewide, 1 percentage point above the previous week.

National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Yr
	Week	Week	Year	Avg
Corn Planted	64	45	69	50
Corn Emerged	27	13	23	17
Soybeans Planted	23	8	26	16
Winter Wheat Headed	57	42	52	44
Spring Wheat Planted	77	54	84	51
Spring Wheat Emerged	39	22	47	25
Cotton Planted	26	16	23	26
Sorghum Planted	30	23	31	31
Oats Planted	88	78	91	74
Oats Emerged	70	56	68	56
Barley Planted	79	57	84	60
Barley Emerged	47	29	53	30
Rice Planted	82	72	77	68
Rice Emerged	67	55	48	50

National Crop Condition Summary
(VP=Very Poor; P=Poor; F=Fair; G=Good; E=Excellent)
	This Week						Last Week						Last Year
	VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E
Winter Wht	1	6	31	51	11		1	6	32	50	11		6	14	36	36	8
Oats	1	3	24	65	7		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA		1	5	21	62	11
Rice	3	6	34	40	17		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA

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