This week, USDA says winter wheat planting progress has reached 47 percent done nationwide versus the five year average of 46 percent. In the Plains, Nebraska and South Dakota have made the fastest progress at 82 and 77 percent respectively.
PLEASE NOTE: Since such a large portion of the nation’s spring planted crops have already reached full maturity, I will dispense with the condition figures for all but the cotton and peanuts since those two crops are just getting a good start on their harvest.
Due to mainly open weather over the past week, corn harvest progress has moved right along with USDA pegging it at 29 percent complete nationwide as of Sunday. That is seven points ahead of its five year average pace. Along the I-80 Corridor, Illinois leads the way with 41 percent now taken out of the field - nine points ahead of its average. Outside the Corn Belt, Texas and North Carolina both report 86 percent of their crops are harvested.
The nation’s soybean harvest zoomed along and is now over a third done with 34 percent completed - eight points ahead of the five year average. In the I-80 Corridor, Iowa reports 40 percent completed - well ahead of its 23 percent average. Outside that corridor, Minnesota leads the key producing states with 62 percent done - doubling its average pace of only 31 percent at this time of year.
Cotton harvest has only reached 13 percent nationwide when it would normally have 19 percent out of the field by now. The biggest producing state of Texas shows their harvest is now at 23 percent complete - right in line with its average pace. The national cotton condition rating went down three points to 62 percent good to excellent this week. Alabama looks to have the best cotton crop condition rating at 78 percent.
Grain sorghum (milo) harvest advanced to 38 percent complete which is only two points ahead of its average. Texas is 84 percent done and South Dakota made tremendous progress, coming up 21 points from last week to now stand at 36 percent harvested.
Rice harvest is rounding the final turn as it has now reached 73 percent completion nationwide, but that is still three points behind its five year average. Texas and Louisiana are basically finishing up “the short rows” as they are approaching 100 percent. Behind them, Mississippi has moved up to 77 percent and Arkansas is now at 72 percent. However, both of those states should be at 82 percent by now.
Peanut harvest is now 19 percent complete across the country which lags its average pace by eight points! Florida is in the lead with 36 percent of its crop out of the field now while Virginia is close behind at 35 percent complete. USDA says the nation’s peanut conditionremains unchanged at 71 percent good to excellent. Alabama’s crop rating slid by six points, but is still at a relatively high 80 percent good to excellent. Florida dropped six points to 62 percent. On the flip side, South Carolina looks to have the best crop this year hands down with 96 percent of its peanut acres garnering a good to excellent rating!
Pasture condition ratings showed a three point improvement in Kansas where it is now at 37 percent in the good to excellent category. New Mexico also had a good week as it improved by eight points bringing it up to 21 percent. Colorado pasture land saw the largest decline in condition in the Plains with a seven point drop.
Topsoil moisture deficit ratings again show Montana with the driest top four inches of the soil as it earns a rating of 96 percent short to very short. Wyoming moves into the second driest space with a 90 percent short to very short rating. Washington state - after owning the top spot for most of the summer, has now dropped to third on the list thanks to an eight point improvement from last week.
Subsoil moisture deficit also shows Montana in the top spot with 94 percent of its acres reportedly short to very short on moisture below the top four inches of the soil. Washington stays in the number two spot this week. Even though it improved by six percentage points from last week, it is still 89 percent short to very short.
