In this week’s report, USDA pegs corn planting progress as of Sunday, May 29th at 86 percent complete nationally - nearly catching up to the five-year average of 87 percent. In the important I-80 Corridor encompassing the key corn production areas between Nebraska and Ohio, Nebraska and Iowa are both basically done with 95 and 94 percent respectively. While Ohio is bringing up the rear, it did manage to catch up to its average of 72 percent.
Soybean planting also nearly caught up to its normal pace as 66 percent is now reported to be in the ground compared to the 67 percent national average. In the I-80 Corridor, the western states continue to register the biggest progress with Nebraska now at 87 percent done - four points ahead of its average. Just as in the corn, Ohio has the slowest progress at 56 percent, but only one point from where it should be by this time of the year.
The national cotton planting pace is actually four points ahead of the five-year average with 68 percent completed. Of the top producing states, Mississippi leads with 90 percent of its crop planted - a full 10 points ahead of schedule. Alabama is not far behind with 85 percent done which is within one point of its five-year average.
Cotton condition shows up in its first report of the year with 44 percent rated good to excellent nationwide. The largest producing state of Texas only has 20 percent making the good to excellent rating while Alabama has a stellar crop so far with 90 percent making that combined category.
Grain sorghum (milo) planting continues to plug along with 40 percent of the acres completed nationally as of Sunday. It is still three percentage points behind its average pace. Nebraska stood out as making the most progress last week with 31 percent of its acreage planted since a week ago. That brings its total up to 55 percent which is actually three points ahead of schedule now after it has been running well behind earlier this year.
Rice planting is for all intents and purposes complete across the nation with 95 percent of the acres planted - one point ahead of its average pace. All of the major producing states are at 90 percent of above so this will be the last rice planting update of this season.
The national rice condition overall seems to be in good shape with 71 percent of the crop rating either good or excellent. The highest crop ratings appear in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas with 77, 76, and 75 percent respectively.
Peanut planting continues to make good progress nationally as it now stands at 79 percent complete versus its average of 77 percent. The largest progress was seen in Texas where 22 percent of the crop was planted in the last seven days, bringing its total up to 61 percent - within a single point of its 62 percent average. Alabama and North Carolina each planted 16 percent of their respective acreages last week.
USDA’s first peanut condition report of the year shows we are off to a good start with 73 percent of the nation’s crop in the combined good to excellent categories. Taking a closer look, the star performers are Alabama and South Carolina - both checking in with an amazing good to excellent rating of 93 percent.
Spring wheat planting is pretty much wrapped up for the year in all areas except for North Dakota which looks like it will never get part of its crop in this year. Nationally, we are at 73 percent completion compared to its average of 92 percent. But, the waterlogged state of North Dakota could only muster 59 percent of its acres sown. Even though good progress of 32 percent was recorded last week, the state is still far behind its 91 percent average. Since insurance planting deadlines have now passed over the vast majority of the state, it is highly likely that we will see many, many acres of “Prevented Plant” spring wheat reported this year - meaning they just won’t be able to get the crop in. There is a chance that some of those acres might get planted to a different crop, but that total gets smaller and smaller with each passing day - especially with more rain in the forecast for that area this week.
Nationally, oats planting moved up to 88 percent completion versus its average of 95 percent. It’s no surprise that North Dakota lags the most with only 69 percent planted when it should have 87 percent seeded by now. But, Minnesota still has some catching up to do as well since it has reached only 78 percent completed while its five-year average is 95 percent.
Winter wheat condition picked up one percentage point in the combined good to excellent categories - but that still only brings the number up to a meager 29 percent rating. Texas has already started harvesting and some test cutting has been reported as far north as southern Oklahoma. Texas remains unchanged in its rating from a week ago with 80 percent rated poor to very poor and only five percent in the good to excellent categories. Oklahoma and Nebraska both saw two point declines. However, Kansas and South Dakota actually improved by three points each.
Pasture conditions in the Plains were all over the place. Kansas picked up seven points in the good to excellent categories while neighboring Nebraska declined that same amount. In the north, North Dakota has rebounded nicely from last year’s drought to currently show 53 percent of its pastureland in good to excellent condition thanks to the abundant moisture received this spring. That was an improvement of 13 points just last week.
In the topsoil moisture deficit category (generally considered to measure the top four inches of soil representing the seed planting and sprouting zone), New Mexico holds down the top spot with 88 percent rated short to very short, even though that is a one point improvement from last week. Texas stays in second place, but it did see an eight point improvement. The biggest improvement was in South Carolina which saw a 16 point reduction in the deficit to land at 60 percent short to very short.
In the subsoil moisture deficit category (considered to measure deep soil moisture down to a few feet where the crop roots would extend downward), New Mexico leads with 93 percent compared to 94 percent a week ago. Colorado moves up to second place with 84 percent of its acreage rating short to very short. Nevada saw a five point increase in its moisture deficit putting it in a tie with Texas at 80 percent. The biggest change since a week ago was seen in Wyoming where nine points were added to the short to very short total.
