In this week’s USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report, we see corn planting is only four percent complete nationwide versus its five-year average of six percent by this week on the calendar. This is especially noteworthy due to the global tight supplies of corn and the fact that the trade was expecting to see five percent planted by now. In the I-80 Corridor where the majority of corn is produced, only Nebraska makes an appearance on the report with two percent planted as of Sunday. Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio all have less than one percent planted.
Soybean planting gets is first update of the year and it shows only one percent planted nationwide, but none yet in the I-80 Corridor. The five-year average pace is two percent and the trade was actually expecting to see two percent in this report, so again, it could have a bearing on the trade tomorrow as we are already off to a slow start and cold, wet weather remains in the northern Plains and the Corn Belt for at least the next week.
Cotton planting is up to 10 percent across the nation this week compared to its average of nine percent. The largest producing state of Texas is actually a little ahead of schedule with 16 percent of its new crop in the ground - obviously a result of the continuing drought which allows rapid field operations with no rain interruptions.
Grain sorghum (milo) planting has mainly only occurred in Texas so far where 57 percent of its crop is now planted - just two points behind its average pace. Because Texas has such a large acreage of grain sorghum, it actually brought the nationwide total up to 17 percent completion, all by itself!
Rice planting is still lagging behind in most states. Nationwide, only 22 percent of the crop is planted when 36 percent should already be in the ground by now. The only state ahead of schedule is Texas with 73 percent planted. The largest producing state of Louisiana is tied with Texas at 73 percent.
Peanut planting is being reported for the first time this year and USDA says two percent of the nation’s crop is now planted which would be right on target with where it should be. The only state with significant planting progress is Florida with 10 percent completed.
Spring wheat planting is having mixed success this year, but overall it’s running one point behind schedule with only eight percent planted nationwide. The top producing state of Idaho is running eight points behind its average at only 28 percent this week. South Dakota got off to a good start this season with 25 percent planted - three points ahead of its average pace. HOWEVER, snow this past weekend and more snow in the forecast mean the Dakotas may make little planting progress for the next week or two.
Oats planting is included for the first time this year in this week’s report. There is a severe shortage of oats around the world, so we need every bushel we can get. Unfortunately, the national planting pace is already running five points behind average at only 34 percent completion. South Dakota is running seven points ahead of its own average, but the entire region of the northern Plains and northwestern Corn Belt where the key producing states are situated could see planting progress stall with wintry conditions expected to settle in for the rest of this week.
Winter wheat condition ratings declined by two points to 30 percent in the good to excellent categories nationally. Oklahoma which saw a large increase in its rating a week ago saw its good to excellent rating tumble by eight points this week! Nebraska showed a five point decline - falling to only 27 percent. Almost unbelievably, Texas sank EVEN LOWER in its ratings with only six percent making the good to excellent grade. That’s down yet another point from last week.
There has been a bit of a shuffle in the states with the largest topsoil moisture deficit this week. Texas and Montana have tied at the dubious top spot with 85 percent of their soils being called short to very short. However, it should be noted that Texas is going backward in its rating from last week while Montana actually improved by three points. Colorado has bumped Wyoming out of the top five.
Similar shuffling took place in the subsoil moisture deficit ratings. Montana maintains the top spot with 91 percent of its acreage rated short to very short - the same as last week. But, Nebraska moves into a tie for second place with Texas at 83 percent and, here again, Colorado bumps Wyoming out of the top five amid intensifying drought.
