USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn Planting Jumps to Near-Average Pace; Soybean Planting Ahead of Normal

(DTN photo illustration by Nick Scalise)

OMAHA (DTN) -- U.S. corn planting jumped to a near-normal pace while national soybean planting was ahead of the five-year average in USDA's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday afternoon.

USDA estimated 17% of the nation's corn crop was planted as of Sunday, just 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 18%, though well behind 28% at the same time last year. Corn emergence, on the other hand, was equal to both last year and the average of 4%.

"Monday's report is neutral for corn," said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman.

Soybean planting, which was reported for the first time this year, was estimated at 6% complete as of Sunday, ahead of last year's 3% and also ahead of the five-year average of 3%.

"Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas were especially eager at, 60%, 59% and 39% planted, respectively," Hultman said. "Monday's report is slightly bearish for soybeans."

USDA also reported that 32% of U.S. winter wheat was headed as of Sunday, April 23, up from 24% a year ago and also up from the five-year average of 23% headed.

"Fifty-four percent of the winter wheat crop was rated good-to-excellent, resulting in a DTN Winter Wheat Condition Index of 134, up 1 point from a week ago. The index is down from 151 a year ago, but above the five-year average of 105," Hultman said. "Monday's report is neutral to bearish for winter wheat."

Meanwhile, spring wheat planting was reported at 22% complete as of Sunday, well behind last year's 40% and also behind the five-year average of 34% planted. Five percent of spring wheat was emerged, behind last year's 7% and the five-year average of 8%.

"Monday's report is modestly bullish," Hultman said.

In other crop reports, sorghum was 24% planted, compared to 19% last year and a 23% five-year average. Cotton planting was 11% complete, compared to 10% last year and a 12% average. Rice was 69% planted, compared to 60% last year and a 47% average. Forty-five percent of rice was emerged.

Oats were 57% planted as of April 23, compared to 69% last year and a 62% average. Emergence was at 37%, compared to 39% last year and a 41% average.

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

Spring planting is in full swing for several crops across the state. Isolated precipitation received in counties continues to improve soil moisture conditions, but did limit fieldwork in areas. Days suitable for fieldwork was 4.8 days, down from the previous week's 6.3 days. Topsoil moisture is 3% very short, 17% short, 76% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 6% very short, 26% short, 66% adequate and 2% surplus. Barley planted is 62% with 51% being the five-year average. Barley emerged is 10% with the five-year average of 18%. Corn planted is 8% with 7% being the five-year average. Spring wheat planted is 33% with 39% the five-year average. Spring wheat emerged is 1% which is the five-year average. Winter wheat pastured is 12% and winter wheat jointed is 43% with 33% being the five-year average.

Illinois

Producers were able to make significant progress planting corn over the past week. There were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork last. Statewide, the average temperature was 58.5 degrees, 3.4 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.43 inch, 0.48 inch below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at 6% short, 86% adequate and 8% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated at 7% short, 87% adequate and 6% surplus. Corn planted was at 34%, compared to 38% last year and the five-year average of 28%. Corn emerged was at 5%, compared to 4% last year and the five-year average of 6%. Soybeans planted was at 4%, compared to both the previous year and five-year average of 2%. Winter wheat headed reached 28%. Winter wheat condition was rated 74% good to excellent. Oats planted reached 82%.

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Indiana

Many farmers were able to get a good start with planting this week. The week started with warm and dry weather, creating ideal soil conditions. Later, there were spotty showers that didn't yield much rain but cooler temperatures were cause for some concern. Average temperatures were 59.3 degrees, 5.1 degrees above normal for the state. The amounts of rainfall varied from zero to 4.25 inches over the week. There were 4.1 days available for fieldwork last week. Topsoil moisture is 1% very short, 4% short, 74% adequate and 21% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 1% very short, 6% short, 79% adequate and 14% surplus. Corn planting is 15% with 13% being the five-year average. Corn emerged is 2%, which is also the five-year average. Soybeans planted is 3% also the five-year average. Winter wheat jointing is 51% with the five-year average 47%. Winter wheat headed is 18% with the five-year average 5%. Winter wheat crop condition is 4% very poor to poor, 24% fair and 72% good to excellent.

Iowa

Rain slowed planting progress early last week, but drier and warmer weather over the weekend allowed producers to plant corn and oats, according to USDA. Statewide, there were 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Other fieldwork activities included fertilizer and anhydrous applications, tillage, and burning down cover crops. Topsoil moisture levels rated 0% very short, 1% short, 79% adequate and 20% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1% very short, 3% short, 77% adequate and 19% surplus. Eight percent of the corn acreage has been planted, nine days behind last year and three days behind the five-year average. Sixty-nine percent of the state's oat crop has been planted, over one week behind last year but just one day behind average. Oats emerged reached 26%. South central Iowa is the only area with less than half the oat crop planted.

Kansas

Temperatures averaged 2 to 6 degrees above normal across most of Kansas. The state continued to receive some rain, with eastern counties receiving 1 to 2 inches. The additional moisture continued to aid wheat development. Operators progressed with field preparations for planting of spring crops and began moving their livestock onto pastures. There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 3% very short, 15% short, 70% adequate, and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 4% very short, 17% short, 73% adequate, and 6% surplus. Winter wheat condition rated 4% very poor, 12% poor, 32% fair, 45% good, and 7% excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 82%, behind 91% last year, but ahead of the five-year average of 70%. Headed was 25%, ahead of 20% last year and 17% average. Corn planted was 21%, well behind 42% last year, and behind 28% average. Emerged was 4%, behind 20% last year, and 10% average.

Michigan

There were 2.5 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan last week. Intermittent rainfall throughout the state kept fieldwork at bay for yet another week in many areas. The accumulation of precipitation over the past several weeks left many fields saturated. Topsoil moisture is 0% very short, 1% short, 40% adequate and 59% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 0% very short, 1% short, 46% adequate and 53% surplus. Corn planted is 1% with five-year average at 4%. Oats planted is 12% with 27% the five-year average. Winter wheat jointed is 9% with 6% the five-year average. Winter wheat crop condition is 11% very poor to poor, 24% fair and 65% good to excellent.

Minnesota

Lingering cool temperatures and wet conditions allowed for only 2.2 days suitable for field work last week. This marks the fourth consecutive week with less than three days suitable for fieldwork delaying planting progress behind the five-year average for all crops except potatoes. Field activities for the week included applying fertilizer, spreading manure, and planting where conditions allowed. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% short, 78% adequate and 21% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% short, 77% adequate and 20% surplus. Fourteen percent of Minnesota's spring wheat was planted, nine days behind last year and 11 days behind average. The oat planting progress advanced 12 percentage points to 29% planted, also nine days behind last year, and eight days behind average. Nine percent of the oats have emerged, well behind last year's 23%. Barley planting progress was 8% planted with scattered emergence reported. Corn planting was 6% completed statewide, with most of the reports coming from southern Minnesota. This is well behind last year's 40% but closer to the average of 17%. Potatoes and sugarbeets, at 22% and 32% planted, respectively remained behind last year's pace.

Missouri

Producers were able to make significant progress planting corn last week. Temperatures averaged 59.6 degrees, 1.9 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 1.91 inches statewide, 0.86 inch above normal. There were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 3% very short, 15% short, 70% adequate and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 5% very short, 17% short, 71% adequate and 7% surplus. Corn planting was 46% complete, 7 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Corn emerged progressed to 13%. Soybean planting was 2% complete. Cotton planting was 13% complete. Rice planting progressed to 65% complete. Rice emerged progressed to 17%. Sorghum planting was 10% complete. Winter wheat headed reached 56%. Winter wheat condition was rated 70% good to excellent.

Nebraska

Temperatures averaged 2 to 4 degrees above normal last week. Significant rainfall was limited to a few north-central counties and some eastern areas. Corn planting was underway in most areas, and the first fields of soybeans were planted. There were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 6% very short, 21% short, 69% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 7% very short, 24% short, 67% adequate and 2% surplus. Corn planted was 17%, near 15% last year, and ahead of 11% for the five-year average. Emerged was 2%, near 1% last year and average. Soybean planted was 4%, ahead of 1% average. Winter wheat condition was rated 54% good to excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 33%, ahead of 26% average. Oats planted was 81%, near 83% last year and equal to average. Oats emerged was 39%, behind 50% last year, and near 43% average.

North Dakota

Temperatures averaged 1 to 5 degrees below normal across the state last week. Northwestern North Dakota experienced warm, windy conditions early in the week, which allowed producers to work their fields in preparation for planting. However, cold soil temperatures and snow continued to slow fieldwork and planting progress across the state. Reports indicated that, on average, producers began fieldwork on April 22. There were 3.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 4% short, 71% adequate and 24% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 6% short, 76% adequate and 17% surplus. Corn planted was 1%, near 5% last year and 4% for the five-year average. Winter wheat condition was rated 75% good to excellent. Winter wheat jointing was 4%, near 3% last year. Spring wheat planted was 9%, behind 24% last year and 22% average. Emerged was 2%, near 4% last year and average. Barley planted was 6%, behind 18% last year and 15% average. Oats planted was 10%, behind 26% last year and 18% average. Durum wheat planted was 5%, near 6% last year, but behind 10% average. Canola planted was 2%, near 4% last year.

Ohio

Warmer and drier weather last week contributed to the most significant planting progress this season. There were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork in Ohio last week. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 2% short, 74% adequate and 24% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3% short, 78% adequate and 19% surplus. Corn planting reached 9% as of Sunday, near the five-year average of 10%. No corn had emerged last week. Winter wheat jointing was 41%, ahead of the average of 33%. Winter wheat condition was rated 80% good to excellent. Oats were 51% planted, ahead of the average of 46%, and 17% of oats were emerged, near the average of 16%.

Oklahoma

Most of Oklahoma received 1 to 3 inches of rainfall last week, which significantly reduced drought across the state, with exception of the east-central area. According to the OCS Mesonet, drought conditions were rated 32% moderate, down 19 points from the previous week, and 10% severe, down 4 points from the previous week. Statewide, temperatures averaged in the mid-70s. Topsoil moisture was rated 7% very short, 22% short, 68% adequate and 30% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9% very short, 26% short, 62% adequate and 3% surplus. Winter wheat jointing reached 93%, down 1 point from normal, and winter wheat headed reached 65%, up 18 points from normal. Winter wheat condition was rated 44% good to excellent. Canola blooming reached 94%, up 7 points from normal. Canola coloring reached 20%, up 20 points from normal. Oats jointing reached 63%, up 17 points from normal, and oats headed reached 20%, up 20 points from the previous year and up 13 points from normal. Corn emerged reached 8%, down 8 points from normal. Sorghum planted reached 16%, up 8 points from normal. Soybeans seeded reached 3%, up 1 point from normal. Cotton planted reached 6%, up 4 points from the previous year and up 5 points from normal.

South Dakota

Small-grain planting continued, and corn and soybean planting began in the state last week. Near-normal temperatures returned to South Dakota. Rain fell across the entire state with some counties receiving an inch or more. There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 12% short, 84% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short, 17% short, 78% adequate and 2% surplus. Winter wheat condition was rated 56% good to excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 1%, behind 20% last year. Spring wheat planted was 75%, ahead of 70% last year and 56% for the five-year average. Emerged was 32%, ahead of 23% last year and 19% average. Oats planted was 68%, near 71% last year, but ahead of 60% average. Emerged was 30%, near 26% last year and ahead of 23% average. Barley planted was 32%, behind 38% last year and average. Emerged was 5%. Corn planted was 3%, near 5% last year and 7% average. Soybeans planted was 1%.

Texas

Temperatures across most of the state last week were slightly cooler than the previous week. Scattered storms affected mostly eastern and central Texas, leaving between half of an inch to 2 inches of rainfall. Isolated areas got as much as 5 inches of precipitation. Baseball-size hail was reported in areas of the Blacklands, but the hail damage extended to fields in the Panhandle and the Cross Timbers. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 5% very short, 24% short, 65% adequate and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4% very short, 24% short, 64% adequate and 8% surplus. The state's corn crop was 68% planted, ahead of the five-year average of 59%, and 60% of the crop was emerged, also ahead of the average of 49%. Corn condition was rated 77% good to excellent. Cotton was 12% planted, near the average of 14%. Rice was 70% planted and 60% emerged. Sorghum was 65% planted, ahead of the average of 57%, and 45% was emerged, well ahead of the average of 22%. Soybeans were 25% planted, behind the five-year average of 34%, while 12% of the crop was emerged, ahead of the average of 4%. Oats were 85% headed. Winter wheat was 67% headed, ahead of the average of 50%. Winter wheat condition was rated 42% good to excellent.

Wisconsin

Though there were a few clear days, mid-week rain kept many fields to wet to work last week. Cold overnight temperatures led to frost in some areas. Reporters noted that winterkill in alfalfa and hay fields was becoming evident, mainly in low areas. Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% short, 63% adequate and 36% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% short, 67% adequate and 32% surplus. As of Sunday, spring tillage was 13% complete statewide, five days behind the five-year average. Corn planting was underway with 1% complete. Oats planting was reported as 19% complete, two days behind the five-year average. Winter wheat was 64% in good-to-excellent condition statewide, up 4 percentage points from last week.

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National Crop Progress Summary
This Last Last 5-Year
Week Week Year Avg.
Corn Planted 17 6 28 18
Corn Emerged 4 (NA) 4 4
Soybeans Planted 6 (NA) 3 3
Winter Wheat Headed 32 19 24 23
Spring Wheat Planted 22 13 40 34
Spring Wheat Emerged 5 (NA) 7 8
Cotton Planted 11 8 10 12
Sorghum Planted 24 21 19 23
Oats Planted 57 45 69 62
Oats Emerged 37 29 39 41
Barley Planted 27 13 43 40
Barley Emerged 7 (NA) 14 10
Rice Planted 69 55 60 47
Rice Emerged 45 25 35 30
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 3 10 33 45 9 3 10 33 46 8 1 7 33 50 9

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(AG)

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