In this week’s Crop Progress & Condition report, USDA shows corn planting progress nationwide at eight percent complete which is now three points ahead of its five-year average of five percent. The key corn states in the I-80 Corridor made some significant progress last week as Illinois moved up to 10 percent completion with Iowa posting that seven percent of its acres were planted as of Sunday. Ohio has little, if any, corn planted yet.
We have our first soybean planting update of the year and USDA reports that four percent of the nation’s crop is now planted. That’s already three points ahead of the five-year average of one percent. In the important I-80 Corridor, Illinois checks in with four percent planted while Iowa has three and Indiana has two.
Cotton planting stands at eight percent complete nationwide this week which is one point behind the average pace. Of the top five producing states, Texas has 13 percent in the ground and Alabama has three. Among the other states, Arizona has 21 percent of its acreage now planted.
Grain sorghum planting across the nation only increased by two points from last week - ending up at 15 percent completion. Of the major producing states, Texas moved up to 52 percent done, but that is still six points behind its 58 percent average pace. Oklahoma is now eight percent finished with its planting and that is actually six points ahead of its average.
Spring wheat planting nationwide only edged up to three percent completion this week which is already four points behind schedule. Washington state has made the most progress reporting 27 percent of its acres planted, but that is still well behind its five-year average of 46 percent by this week. Idaho has 25 percent seeded, but the other key states have barely even started.
Winter wheat condition nationwide held steady at 27 percent good to excellent. In the Plains, Oklahoma dropped seven points to show only 13 percent in the combined good to excellent categories. Kansas gained back one point from last week, but still only has 14 percent reported as good to excellent. Notably, South Dakota dropped five points in its rating to only 24 percent, but even that is good enough to give it the top spot among the Plains producing states.
In the topsoil moisture deficit report (generally considered to measure the top four inches of soil representing the seed planting and sprouting zone), Kansas continues to hold the top spot as 78 percent short to very short despite the fact that it saw a two point improvement from last week. Oklahoma went backwards by eight percentage points to stand at 76 percent where it now assumes second place on the deficit list.
In the subsoil moisture deficit report (considered to measure deep soil moisture down to a few feet where the crop roots would extend downward), Kansas and New Mexico are tied for the dubious top spot as they both reported 82 percent of their acres in the short to very short categories. Nebraska is not far behind with 79 percent.
USDA Crop Progress 230417.pdf
