USDA Weekly Crop Progress

By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- Cold, snowy weather across much of the Midwest and Northern Plains kept farmers from making much progress on corn planting last week, according to USDA's latest weekly Crop Progress report issued Monday.

As of Sunday, April 15, only 3% of U.S. corn was planted, up just 1 percentage point from the previous week and behind the five-year average of 5%.

Meanwhile, there was both good news and bad news for winter wheat in Monday's report. The good news was that the percentage of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition was up 1 percentage point from 30% the previous week to 31% last week. The bad news was that the percentage of the crop in very poor-to-poor condition increased 2 percentage points from 35% the previous week to 37% last week.

USDA's winter wheat condition ratings resulted in a DTN condition index of 47, down from 50 the previous week and the lowest since at least 2002, said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman.

Sorghum was 20% planted, compared to 21% last year and a 20% five-year average. Oats were 29% planted as of April 15, compared to 43% last year and a 44% average. Oats emerged was at 26%, compared to 29% last year and a 30% average.

Cotton planting was 8% complete, compared to 8% last year and a 7% average. Rice was 32% planted, compared to 52% last year and a 35% average. Fifteen percent of rice was emerged, equal to the average pace.

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

A late-week blizzard blanketed northeastern Colorado and stalled fieldwork. Other localities across the state received isolated precipitation and high winds, with the majority of areas remaining dry and in need of moisture. Days suitable for fieldwork is 5.2 days, down from the previous week's 5.9 days. Topsoil moisture is 29% very short, 32% short, 38% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 24% very short, 32% short and 44% adequate. Barley planted is 36% with the five-year average 31%. Barley emerged is 4%. Spring wheat planted is 33% with 20% the five-year average. Spring wheat emerged is 6%. Winter wheat pastured is 19%. Winter wheat jointed is 10% with the five-year average 15%. Winter wheat crop condition is 24% very poor to poor, 38% fair and 38% good to excellent.

Illinois

A cold, wet week slowed most producers' field work to light planting and anhydrous ammonia application. There were 1.8 days suitable for fieldwork. The average temperature was 47.3 degrees, 3.2 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 1.17 inches, 0.10 inch above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at 1% very short, 2% short, 65% adequate and 32% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated at 1% very short, 7% short, 73% adequate and 19% surplus. Winter wheat headed reached 3 percent. Winter wheat condition was rated at 4% very poor, 8% poor, 34% fair, 47% good and 7% excellent.

Indiana

Wet and cold conditions prevailed and continued to delay field work. Temperatures rose during the latter portion of the week only to be followed by a weekend with below-freezing temps and rain. The average temperature for the week 49.3 degrees, 0.4 degree below normal for the state. The amounts of rainfall varied from 0.07 inch to 1.95 inches over the week. There were 2.0 days available for fieldwork. Days suitable for fieldwork is 2.0 days, up from the previous week's 0.6 day. Topsoil moisture is 2% short, 59% adequate and 39% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 4% short, 61% adequate and 35% surplus. Winter wheat 8% very short to short, 33% fair and 59% good to excellent.

Iowa

As cold, wet weather persisted yet another week, statewide, Iowa farmers had only 1.3 days suitable for fieldwork. When conditions allowed, farmers in the southern two-thirds of the state were busy applying fertilizer and seeding oats with isolated reports of tillage. Topsoil moisture levels rated 1% very short, 7% short, 70% adequate and 22% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 3% very short, 12% short, 74% adequate and 11% surplus. Recent heavy snow and rain have left northern Iowa with surplus soil moisture. Twelve percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, nine days behind last year and 10 days behind the five-year average. While one-quarter of the oats have been planted in east-central and southwest Iowa, northwest and north-central Iowa have yet to get planting underway.

Kansas

There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 36% very short, 36% short, 28% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 31% very short, 39% short, 30% adequate and 0% surplus. Winter wheat condition was rated 14% very poor, 32% poor, 42% fair, 11% good and 1% excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 22%, well behind 62% last year and 51% for the five-year average. Corn planted was 6%, near 8% last year, but behind 15% average.

Michigan

There were 1.3 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan last week. Winter-like conditions at week's end increased heavy snow cover in northern Michigan and contributed to overly saturated soils in southern Michigan. The snowstorm and cold temperatures in the Upper Peninsula left some producers in search of shelter for their young livestock. Northern Michigan also received snow and unseasonably cold temperatures. The cold weather hindered the breaking of dormancy in winter wheat in many areas, and the ice possibly damaged winter wheat in other areas. Some fieldwork took place in southern Michigan before the snow and ice storms halted progress towards the end of the week. A few fortunate producers were able to continue fertilizer applications, complete some tillage operations, and drill oats. However, by the end of the week, fieldwork was at a standstill due to the chilly blizzard conditions. Winter wheat was rated 68% good to excellent. Winter wheat jointed and oats were 4% completed, compared to 2% last week.

Minnesota

Lingering cooler-than-normal temperatures and additional snowfall across much of the state resulted in another week with no days suitable for fieldwork. Snow cover remains widespread with most areas reporting frost still in the ground and soil temperatures below normal for this time of the year. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0% very short, 1% short, 55% adequate and 44% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated zero% very short, 3% short, 74% adequate and 23% surplus. Snow cover and cool temperatures have delayed planting of spring crops. Oats planted were reported as zero percent complete, 16 percentage points behind last year, and 17 points behind the five-year average. Spring wheat planted was reported as zero percent complete, 8 percentage points behind last year, and 13 points behind the five-year average.

Missouri

Average temperatures and precipitation for the week were slightly below average, with large temperature fluctuations occurring within short periods of time, hindering planting and growth throughout most of the state. Some freezing occurred mostly in the western half of the state along with tornado warnings farther south. Temperatures last week averaged 50.4 degrees, 3.1 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.89 inch statewide, 0.20 inch below normal. There were 3.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 4% very short, 8% short, 76% adequate, and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 4% very short, 12% short, 77% adequate, and 7% surplus. Winter wheat was rated 47% good to excellent.

Nebraska

There were 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% very short, 16% short, 78% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 22% short, 73% adequate and 2% surplus. Corn planted was 1%, near 3% last year and 2% for the five-year average. Winter wheat condition was rated 55% good to excellent. Oats planted was 35%.

North Dakota

There was 0.1 day suitable for fieldwork last week. Reports indicated that, on average, producers intended to begin fieldwork on May 3. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 9% very short, 28% short, 60% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 16% very short, 32% short, 50% adequate and 2% surplus. Winter wheat condition was rated 27% good to excellent.

Ohio

Saturated fields had begun to dry out toward the end of last week only to have rain arrive by the weekend for most of Ohio. There were 1.7 day suitable for fieldwork. Fertilizer applications and spring herbicide applications occurred when high winds did not curtail applications. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 48% adequate and 52% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 48% adequate and 52% surplus. Winter wheat jointing was 5%, well behind the average pace of 14%. Winter wheat condition was rated 70% good to excellent. Oats were 8% planted, behind the average of 16%.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma received less than a quarter inch of rainfall across the state, with the exception of the southeast district, which recorded 1.23 inches. Statewide, temperatures averaged in the high 50s. Topsoil moisture was rated 50% very short, 22% short, 27% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 49% very short, 24% short, 25% adequate and 2% surplus. There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Winter wheat jointing reached 75%, down 12 points from normal. Winter wheat headed reached 15%, down 1 point from normal. Canola blooming reached 43%, down 44 points from the previous year. Rye jointing reached 68%, down 11 points from normal. Rye headed reached 28%, down 9 points from the previous year. Oats jointing reached 37%, up 4 points from normal. Sorghum planted reached 5%, equal to the normal pace.

South Dakota

There was 0.6 day suitable for fieldwork last week. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short, 14% short, 76% adequate and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 10% very short, 27% short, 61% adequate and 2% surplus. Winter wheat condition was rated 27% good to excellent. Spring wheat planted was 1%, well behind 34% for the five-year average. Oats planted was 1%, well behind 36% average.

Texas

Weather was mostly cool and windy throughout Texas last week. The Northern Plains and some other areas in the state experienced freezing temperatures. East Texas, the Upper Coast, the Coastal Bend, south-central Texas and areas of the Blacklands received from 0.5 inch to 2 inches of rain. The rest of the state remained very dry, intensifying the drought in the Northern Plains and the Southern Low Plains up to the point of reaching exceptional drought levels according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 39% very short, 27% short, 32% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 29% very short, 33% short, 36% adequate and 2% surplus. Corn was 60% planted, ahead of the average pace of 54%, and 43% of the crop was emerged, near the average of 42%. Cotton was 13% planted, ahead of the average of 10%. Rice was 70% planted and 55% emerged. Sorghum was 64% planted. Soybeans were 12% planted, behind the average of 16%. Winter wheat was 40% headed, ahead of the average 32%. Winter wheat condition was rated 13% good to excellent. Oats were 66% headed, well ahead of the average of 40%.

Wisconsin

Farmers in southern Wisconsin did a limited amount of fieldwork last week, mostly manure and fertilizer applications, before wintery conditions halted progress. Starting Friday, a three-day blizzard dumped yet another round of heavy, wet snow across the state, with high winds and whiteout conditions in some areas. Central and northeastern portions of the state were especially hard-hit with reporters noting up to 2 feet of new snow on top of the existing snowpack. The storm was the second-largest snowstorm ever recorded at the NWS weather station in Green Bay, more than doubling the previous records for largest April snowstorm and snowiest April. Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 6% short, 76% adequate and 17% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 7% short, 81% adequate and 11% surplus. As of April 15, spring tillage was 2% complete statewide, up 1 percentage point from last week, but 4 percentage points behind the five-year average. Oats planted were reported as 2% complete, 6 points behind the five-year average. Winter wheat was 50% in good-to-excellent condition statewide, up 2 percentage points from the previous week.

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National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Year
	Week	Week	Year	Avg.
Corn Planted	3	2	6	5
Cotton Planted	8	7	8	7
Sorghum Planted	20	17	21	20
Spring Wheat Planted	3	2	12	15
Winter Wheat Headed	9	3	18	10
Barley Planted	7	4	12	23
Oats Planted	29	27	43	44
Oats Emerged	26	25	29	30
Rice Planted	32	21	52	35
Rice Emerged	15	11	23	15

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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 Wheat	15	22	32	26	5		14	21	35	26	4		3	10	33	46	8

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