NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Progress report shows spring planting moving ahead of average for corn and soybeans, while winter wheat condition remains a major concern in the Plains.
Drought.gov reported that 61.47 percent of the Lower 48 was in drought as of May 13, with conditions worsening in parts of the Northwest, Plains, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic.
Great Plains
- Kansas: Corn planting reached 52 percent, slightly behind the five-year average, while sorghum planting was just ahead of average. Winter wheat remained the bigger concern, with 51 percent rated poor to very poor and 86 percent headed, well ahead of normal.
- Oklahoma: Winter wheat was 92 percent headed, ahead of the five-year average, but 51 percent of the crop was rated poor to very poor. Cotton planting was slightly ahead of average, while pasture and range conditions remained mostly fair to poor.
- Texas: Corn and sorghum planting were near normal, while cotton planting reached 27 percent, close to the five-year average. Winter wheat was 60 percent poor to very poor, keeping attention on yield losses, grazing pressure, and harvest potential.
- Nebraska: Corn planting reached 67 percent, ahead of the five-year average, and soybeans reached 64 percent, well ahead of normal. Winter wheat remained in difficult shape, with 82 percent rated poor to very poor.
- Colorado: Corn planting reached 40 percent, ahead of average, and winter wheat heading was well ahead of normal. However, 52 percent of winter wheat and 60 percent of pasture and range were rated poor to very poor.
Midwest
- Illinois: Corn planting was at 54 percent, matching the five-year average, while soybeans reached 57 percent, ahead of normal. Winter wheat condition was much stronger than the Plains, with 73 percent rated good to excellent.
- Iowa: Corn planting reached 72 percent, ahead of average, while soybeans reached 60 percent. Emergence was still developing, but planting progress remained strong heading into the second half of May.
- Missouri: Corn planting was 66 percent, slightly behind average, while soybean planting reached 41 percent, ahead of normal. Winter wheat was 84 percent headed and 70 percent good to excellent.
- Indiana: Corn planting reached 51 percent, ahead of the five-year average, and soybeans reached 51 percent, also well ahead of average. Winter wheat was 72 percent good to excellent.
- Ohio: Corn planting reached 37 percent, and soybeans reached 34 percent, both ahead of average. Winter wheat condition remained generally favorable, with 64 percent rated good to excellent.
Delta & South
- Arkansas: Soybean planting reached 81 percent, well ahead of average, and rice planting reached 93 percent. Rice emergence was also ahead of normal, with 68 percent of the crop rated good to excellent.
- Louisiana: Soybean planting reached 91 percent, and rice planting reached 97 percent. Rice emergence was also strong at 89 percent, while cotton planting lagged the five-year average.
- Mississippi: Soybean planting reached 83 percent, ahead of average, and cotton planting reached 47 percent. Rice planting and emergence were both ahead of normal.
- Tennessee: Corn planting reached 92 percent, and soybeans reached 76 percent, both far ahead of average. Cotton planting was also well ahead of normal at 49 percent.
- Alabama and Georgia: Alabama cotton planting reached 38 percent, ahead of average, while Georgia cotton planting remained near normal at 24 percent. Pasture conditions were weaker in Georgia, where nearly half of pasture and range was rated poor to very poor.
West & Southwest
- California: Cotton planting reached 90 percent, ahead of average, and rice planting reached 40 percent, slightly behind average. Winter wheat condition remained strong, with 95 percent rated good to excellent.
- Arizona: Pasture and range remained under heavy pressure, with 74 percent rated poor to very poor. Cotton planting was near average at 81 percent.
- New Mexico: Pasture and range conditions stayed difficult, with 47 percent rated poor to very poor. That keeps pressure on livestock, forage and water planning.
- Utah and Nevada: Utah pasture and range conditions were weak, with 42 percent rated poor to very poor. Nevada conditions were mostly fair, but the broader West remains sensitive to water supply and summer heat.
Northwest & Northern Rockies
- Washington: Spring wheat planting reached 94 percent, ahead of average, while barley planting reached 90 percent. Winter wheat was also in strong condition, with 84 percent rated good to excellent.
- Oregon: Winter wheat heading was slightly behind average, but condition was mixed, with 55 percent good to excellent and 18 percent poor to very poor. Drought.gov reported worsening drought in large parts of the Northwest during the May 6-13 period.
- Idaho: Sugarbeet planting reached 97 percent, and spring wheat planting reached 89 percent. Barley emergence was ahead of average, and pasture and range were mostly good to excellent.
- Montana: Spring wheat planting was at 54 percent, matching the average, while barley planting was ahead of average. Pasture and range remained stressed, with 52 percent rated poor to very poor.
- Wyoming: Pasture and range conditions remained a concern, with 60 percent rated poor to very poor. Producers will be watching late-spring moisture closely as grazing demand increases.
Northeast
- Pennsylvania: Corn planting reached 27 percent, close to average, and oats planting was ahead of average. Pasture and range were mostly fair to excellent, giving livestock producers a more stable forage picture than in the Plains.
- New York: Pasture and range conditions were mostly favorable, with 79 percent rated good to excellent. Drought.gov reported mixed conditions across the Northeast during the latest week.
- New England: Pasture conditions varied, with Vermont rated fully good, while Maine and New Hampshire had more fair-to-good ratings. The region remains outside the main row-crop planting focus but is important for dairy, forage, and specialty crops.
Upper Midwest & Great Lakes
- Minnesota: Corn planting reached 68 percent, ahead of average, and soybeans reached 51 percent, well ahead of normal. Spring wheat planting was slightly behind average, while sugarbeet planting was ahead.
- Wisconsin: Corn planting reached 31 percent, slightly behind average, while soybeans reached 28 percent, slightly ahead. Pasture and range were mostly fair to good.
- Michigan: Corn planting was slower at 17 percent, behind the five-year average, while soybean planting was 12 percent, also behind normal. Sugarbeet planting improved to 75 percent but remained behind average.
- North Dakota and South Dakota: North Dakota corn, soybean, and spring wheat planting all moved ahead of average, while South Dakota corn and soybean planting were also ahead. South Dakota pasture and range remained under pressure, with 42 percent rated poor to very poor.
Far North & U.S. Territories
- Alaska: USDA’s national Crop Progress report does not provide major field-crop progress data for Alaska in this release. The main agricultural focus remains seasonal pasture, forage, specialty crops, and local food production as spring field conditions develop.
- Hawaii: Hawaii is not included in the major field-crop progress tables used for this recap. Producers there continue to watch localized moisture patterns, specialty crop needs and livestock forage conditions.
- Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories: Drought remains part of the national picture, with Drought.gov reporting 51.35 percent of the United States and Puerto Rico in drought as of May 13. Drought can reduce water availability and water quality for farms, ranches, and grazing lands.
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