In this week’s report, USDA says corn planting progress as of Sunday, June 5th is basically done nationally at 94 percent complete - actually surpassing the five-year average by two percentage points. In the important I-80 Corridor encompassing the key corn production areas between Nebraska and Ohio, it is noteworthy that Ohio was 85 percent done, but that is normal because it is three points ahead of its average. The bigger problem remains in North Dakota where only 81 percent was planted - 11 points behind its normal pace. There is still a lot of talk that one to two million acres of corn may not get planted this year in the northern Plains. In the first corn condition rating to be released this year, 73 percent of the nation’s corn crop made it into the combined good to excellent categories compared to last year’s rating of 72 percent for this week, so we are off to a good start on the quality of this year’s crop. In the I-80 Corridor, the best condition is seen in Iowa where the combined top rating came in at 86 percent. Illinois reported 81 percent of its crop in the good to excellent categories.
Soybean planting bumped up to 78 percent complete nationwide - just one point shy of the five-year average of 79 percent. In the I-80 Corridor, all of the states made good progress to now stand ahead of their average pace. Ohio is only 71 percent planted as of Sunday, but that is totally normal for them. Outside of the I-80 Corridor, the area of key concern remains North Dakota with only 41 percent of its acreage planted compared to its five-year average of 85 percent. Minnesota lags its average pace by 18 points coming in at only 71 percent planted.
The national cotton planting pace advanced to 84 percent completion compared to its average pace of 76 percent by this week on the calendar. Texas made huge strides in planting cotton last week as farmers planted 22 percent of their acreage in the last week to bring their total up to 82 percent - well ahead of the five-year average of 69 percent. Mississippi is basically done with 96 percent in the ground.
Cotton condition improved by four points this week to place 48 percent of the nation’s acreage in the good to excellent categories. Alabama has a phenomenal 96 percent in the combined categories. Meanwhile, the top producing state of Texas stands at a meager 27 percent. However, that is still an improvement of seven points over last week in Texas.
Grain sorghum (milo) planting is now one point ahead of its national average pace at 56 percent complete. The key production state of Oklahoma is running nine points behind normal at only 33 percent - possibly due to recent heavy rains. Colorado is 12 points behind its average, but likely due to the dry soil conditions from the drought.
The first grain sorghum condition rating of the year shows 46 percent of the nation’s crop ranks in the good to excellent categories. The Texas rating definitely shows where the drought is centered since it has a mere 16 percent of its crop making the good to excellent score.
Rice condition is off to a good start with 72 percent of the crop making the good to excellent rating nationally. It would have been better had it not been for the drag of Texas weighing the average down as it reports only 44 percent good to excellent.
Peanut planting is coming down the home stretch with 88 percent of the crop now in the ground - one point ahead of its national average pace. Only Oklahoma seems to be running significantly behind with 45 percent of its acreage planted compared to the state’s five-year average of 61 percent.
Peanut condition stands at 73 percent good to excellent nationally for its initial rating for the year. South Carolina claims the top spot with an amazing 97 percent of its crop in the combined categories. Alabama is right on its heels with 96 percent.
Spring wheat planting is basically finished in all of the key producing states except for North Dakota which is only 74 percent done versus its 97 percent average and Minnesota which is lagging the worst with only 65 percent planted compared to its average of 97 percent.
Nationally, oats planting stands at 94 percent complete which is only three points behind the average of 97percent. HOWEVER, North Dakota and Minnesota are lagging with only 84 and 86 percent planted respectively.
Winter wheat condition improved one point to bring the combined good to excellent categories up to 30 percent this week. That may be about as high as the winter wheat ratings get for this year since harvest has already begun in the south and moved northward as far as Oklahoma and portions of the Texas Panhandle. Once the wheat turns color when it is maturing, rain has little impact on yield from that point on.
Pasture conditions generally improved across the board with only New Mexico seeing a drop in condition last week. That being said, the only key cattle production state with at least half of its pastureland registering a good to excellent rating is North Dakota. Rains in the Plains this week will likely bring those condition ratings up again next week.
In the topsoil moisture deficit rundown (generally considered to measure the top four inches of soil representing the seed planting and sprouting zone), New Mexico held steady with 88 percent of its acres falling into the short to very short combined categories. Texas improved six points while Nevada saw a large 10 point decline in topsoil moisture.
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 again maintains the top spot with 93 percent rated short to very short. Nevada stayed at 80 percent while Colorado saw a nice improvement of five points even though it remains in the third spot.
