(Washington, D.C.) The USDA’s weekly crop progress report showed corn and soybean planting progress is steady to ahead of normal.
According to the report, corn planting reached 11% completion nationwide as of Sunday, matching last year’s pace and slightly ahead of the five-year average of 9%. Tennessee leads significantly, with 64% of its crop planted — 40 percentage points ahead of its usual pace. Kentucky follows at 48%, well above its average of 18%. Illinois and Indiana are also ahead of schedule, with 13% and 14% planted, respectively.
About 4% of the corn crop has emerged so far, putting it 2 percentage points ahead of both last year and the five-year average.
Soybean planting is progressing quickly, with 12% of the intended acreage planted nationwide. That’s 5 percentage points ahead of last year and 7 points above the five-year average.
Illinois farmers have planted 20% of their soybean crop, significantly ahead of both last year and typical progress. Indiana is also moving quickly, with 19% planted — far exceeding both last year’s pace and the state’s average.
Meanwhile, the condition of the winter wheat crop declined again last week, dropping four percentage points in the nationwide good-to-excellent rating. The decrease comes as drought conditions intensify and crops face limited rainfall along with recent frosts and freezes, according to the USDA’s latest Crop Progress report.
Weather challenges are expected to continue. Forecasters say a familiar pattern is developing, bringing another wave of showers and thunderstorms stretching from Texas to the Great Lakes. At the same time, colder air — and even some snow — is likely to move through the Northern Plains and Canadian Prairies.
