RFD-TV Weekly Crop Progress and Livestock Production Regional Update

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Spring fieldwork is moving ahead in much of the country, but the pace still depends heavily on region. USDA’s latest crop and weather data showed stronger planting progress in parts of the South and central Midwest, while drought, frost risk, flooding, and water concerns continued to shape conditions elsewhere.

Nationally, corn planting reached 12 percent, soybeans 8 percent, cotton 15 percent, and rice 66 percent for the week ending April 26. Winter wheat condition remained a major concern in parts of the Plains, while drought worsened again in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and High Plains heading into May.

Great Plains

Texas: Texas stayed active with spring fieldwork. Corn planting reached 72 percent, sorghum 63 percent, soybeans 55 percent, and cotton 21 percent by April 26, while winter wheat condition stood at 47 percent good to excellent.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma wheat remains under pressure. Winter wheat was 42 percent headed, but only 12 percent of the crop rated good to excellent, showing the state still needs better moisture and a better finish.
Kansas: Kansas remains one of the weakest wheat states in the country. Winter wheat was 33 percent headed, but just 25 percent rated good to excellent, with drought and earlier freezes still part of the backdrop.
Nebraska: Nebraska continued moving ahead on corn, with planting at 16 percent by April 26. Wheat condition remained soft at 17 percent good to excellent, which keeps the focus on moisture and late-spring weather.
Colorado and Wyoming: Colorado winter wheat rated only 21 percent good to excellent, showing continued stress. Broader drought conditions in the High Plains remained a concern, especially where recent improvements have been limited.
The Dakotas: South Dakota had 14 percent of spring wheat planted and 37 percent of oats planted by April 26, while North Dakota remained much earlier in the season with 6 percent of spring wheat planted. The Northern Plains are still in an early but closely watched spring window.

Midwest

Iowa: Iowa planting accelerated with 14 percent of corn and 9 percent of soybeans planted by April 26. Oat planting reached 53 percent, while winter wheat condition stood at 50 percent good to excellent.
Illinois: Illinois remained ahead of normal on both major row crops. Corn planting reached 16 percent and soybeans 22 percent, while winter wheat condition stood at 63 percent good to excellent.
Indiana: Indiana moved quickly, with 19 percent of corn and 10 percent of soybeans planted by April 26. Winter wheat condition remained strong at 73 percent good to excellent.
Ohio: Ohio kept pace with 16 percent of corn and 8 percent of soybeans planted. Winter wheat rated 68 percent good to excellent, giving the state a much firmer wheat outlook than the southern Plains.
Missouri: Missouri remained one of the more advanced states in the region. Corn was 34 percent planted, soybeans 20 percent, rice 65 percent, and winter wheat 62 percent good to excellent.

Delta & South

Arkansas: Arkansas stayed among the leaders in rice. Rice planting reached 81 percent and 56 percent had emerged by April 26, while cotton planting also moved forward.
Louisiana: Louisiana remained one of the furthest along in spring fieldwork. Soybeans were 68 percent planted, rice 94 percent planted, and 87 percent of the rice crop had emerged by April 26.
Mississippi: Mississippi also pushed ahead. Soybeans were 65 percent planted, rice 82 percent planted, cotton 19 percent planted, and corn 90 percent planted by April 26.
Tennessee: Tennessee continued at a fast pace with corn at 76 percent planted and soybeans at 55 percent. Fieldwork windows have remained relatively favorable compared with wetter regions farther north.
Kentucky: Kentucky pushed corn planting to 57 percent and soybeans to 28 percent. The state remains ahead of many northern neighbors, helped by earlier field access.
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas: The Southeast remains the weather stress center. Drought worsened again across the region, and USDA’s weather bulletin said frost and freeze conditions also threatened blooming fruit and specialty crops from the Deep South into the Mid-Atlantic.

West & Southwest

California: California led cotton planting at 55 percent by April 26. Water remains the long-term issue, even where planting activity is moving, because western water-supply concerns have not fully eased.
Arizona and New Mexico: Arizona cotton planting reached 55 percent by April 26. Across the broader Southwest, water and heat remain the major strategic concerns as the irrigation season develops.
Nevada and Utah: The interior West remains tied closely to water outlooks. USDA and NRCS updates continue to point to uneven runoff expectations and renewed drought concerns in several western basins.

Northwest & Northern Rockies

Washington: Washington winter wheat remained in very good shape at 90 percent good to excellent. But the larger issue is water, with drought and low snowpack concerns still hanging over parts of the Pacific Northwest.
Oregon: Oregon winter wheat rated 69 percent good to excellent by April 26. Even so, broader drought conditions in parts of the region continue to shape irrigation and summer outlook concerns.
Idaho: Idaho winter wheat stood at 85 percent good to excellent. Crop condition remains much stronger here than in the central and southern Plains, though western water supply still matters going forward.
Montana: Montana spring seeding remained early but active, with barley at 38 percent planted and spring wheat at 18 percent planted by April 26. The state remains part of the broader Northern Rockies water-watch heading deeper into the growing season.

Northeast

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania remained behind the Corn Belt on row-crop fieldwork, with 5 percent of corn planted by April 26. Winter wheat stood at 52 percent good to excellent.
New York: New York fieldwork remained limited compared with the Midwest, but weather volatility remained the larger story. USDA’s weather bulletin highlighted sharp cold in the Northeast, with freeze concerns for fruit crops.
New England: Weather was the main issue across New England. Frost and freeze conditions during the week raised concern for orchards, berries, and other specialty crops already pushed by earlier warmth.
Mid-Atlantic: The broader Mid-Atlantic also dealt with frost risk on blooming fruit crops after earlier warmth accelerated development. That leaves specialty producers watching for damage assessments as May begins.

Upper Midwest & Great Lakes

Minnesota: Minnesota advanced to 23 percent corn planted, 9 percent soybeans, 46 percent oats, and 10 percent spring wheat by April 26. Planting progress was improving, but the season remains young.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin remained slower, with 7 percent of corn and 3 percent of soybeans planted. Cooler weather and earlier flooding concerns kept the state from matching the faster western Corn Belt pace.
Michigan: Michigan also stayed in the early stages of fieldwork, with 6 percent of corn planted and very little soybean progress reported. Fruit producers remained especially alert because of the week’s freeze risk.

Far North & Territories

Alaska: Alaska remains in its normal late-spring transition, with limited broad field-crop reporting compared with the Lower 48. Seasonal preparation remains the bigger story than planting pace.
Hawaii: Hawaii continues to deal with a mix of weather and recovery issues. USDA recently highlighted disaster assistance tied to flooding impacts, while drought conditions have remained part of the broader island picture.
Puerto Rico and other Territories: Puerto Rico and other territories remain part of the broader U.S. drought and weather picture, but detailed mainland-style crop progress data remain limited. Conditions there are better tracked through drought monitoring and local agency updates than through the weekly national planting tables.