In this week’s Crop Progress & Condition report, USDA shows corn planting progress nationwide at three percent complete which is just a modest increase of one point from last week. Cold, wet conditions have hampered planting in most of the key growing regions, but that is set to change this week with the approach of warmer, drier weather. As of Sunday, the only state in the I-80 Corridor that reported any progress was Illinois with one percent. As far as states outside the Corridor go, Texas is far and away the leader with 61 percent of its crop planted. North Carolina has 12 percent in the ground.
Cotton planting moved up to six percent done nationally - slightly behind its five-year average of seven percent, but of the top five producing states, Texas is still the only state that makes an appearance with 11 percent planted which is one point behind its average pace. Among the other states, Arizona does report that it is finished planting on 13 percent of its acres.
Grain sorghum planting remains stuck at 13 percent complete across the US, unchanged from last week. By now, US farmers would normally have 15 percent of their crop put in. Texas checks in with 48 percent of its crop in the ground which is an increase of only two points from a week ago. None of the other Plains states have started planting yet.
We got our first spring wheat planting report from USDA this week. It shows that only one percent of the nation’s crop has been seeded as of Sunday compared to the five-year average of four percent by this time. The leader is Washington state with 11 percent planted, but that is far behind its five-year average of 33 percent. Idaho reports only two percent of its acres are planted, and NONE of the other major producing states report ANY progress yet due to cold, wet soils and remaining snow cover in many areas which is preventing any fieldwork.
Winter wheat condition nationwide dropped another point in the good to excellent categories - taking it down to only 27 percent. That ties the record low rating for this date going back to 1996 and is now trailing the condition one year ago by five points. (The national poor to very poor rating comes in at 37 percent - over a third of the entire US winter wheat crop.) After seeing a six point improvement this week, South Dakota jumps into first place among the Plains states with 29 percent of its crop rating good to excellent. On the other hand, Oklahoma dropped by six points. Kansas wheat still has the worst rating of the Plains states with only 13 percent making the good to excellent grade.
In the topsoil moisture deficit report (generally considered to measure the top four inches of soil representing the seed planting and sprouting zone), Kansas declined another seven percentage points as it reported 80 percent of its acreage in the short to very short categories. New Mexico takes the second spot at 74 percent after sliding by another six points this week. Texas actually reported an eight point improvement.
In the subsoil moisture deficit report (considered to measure deep soil moisture down to a few feet where the crop roots would extend downward), New Mexico maintains a firm grasp on the top spot at 91 percent after seeing a decline of another seven points since last week. Kansas saw its moisture availability decline by another three points - dragging it down to 83 percent of its acres in deep soil moisture deficit.
USDA Crop Progress 230410.pdf
