In this week’s USDA report, winter wheat planting was reportedly 87 percent complete - nearly in line with its five year average of 86 percent. In the Plains, the northern half show the furthest progress with South Dakota and Nebraska basically done. On the southern end, Texas has 79 percent of its crop now seeded.
The national winter wheat condition ratings showed the good to excellent rating at 45 percent which would be down one point from a week ago. Texas bears watching as its condition rating declined by 10 percentage points all the way down to only 17 percent good to excellent - far below the rest of the Plains states.
Corn harvest is now 74 complete nationwide which is eight points ahead of its five year average. In the I-80 Corridor, Illinois continues to lead the harvest progress with 81 percent now out of the field. Meanwhile, Ohio is bringing up the rear with only 51 percent harvested.
Nationally, the soybean harvest stands at 79 percent complete - lagging behind its average pace by two points. In the I-80 Corridor, the soybean harvest continues to go the fastest in the western Corn Belt with Nebraska already 91 percent done and Iowa at 88 percent.
Cotton harvest still hasn’t caught up with the average pace as the national number now stands at 45 percent compared to its five year average of 48 percent. However, the largest producing state of Texas is running four points ahead of schedule with 45 percent of its crop now harvested. Of the major producing states, Mississippi has shown the most progress with 59 percent of its crop now taken out of the field.
Grain sorghum (milo) harvest has advanced to 80 percent complete - 10 points ahead of its average pace. In the Plains, Texas is basically done. Otherwise, South Dakota has surged ahead to 84 percent complete with Nebraska and Colorado both at 78 percent harvested. Most states are running well ahead of their five year average.
The national peanut harvest lags is average by seven points coming in at 67 percent completed. Florida leads the pack with 84 percent out of the field. Meanwhile, the largest producing state of Georgia is running nine points behind schedule at 69 percent done.
In the Plains pasture conditions, Oklahoma and South Dakota showed the most improvement with gains of six and five percent respectively. However, the condition of South Dakota’s pastureland remains dismal with only 10 percent rated good to very good and 66 percent rated poor to very poor.
Montana still holds the top spot for dry topsoil moistureconditions. It shows 96 percent of its acreage is short to very short on moisture in the top four inches of the soil.
Montana also has a tight grip on the driest subsoil moisture ratings with 94 percent of its land falling in the short to very short categories.
