Corn planting progress reached 81 percent complete nationwide as of Sunday, May 20, equal to the five-year average, according to the USDA National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) weekly Crop Progress report released Monday, May 21.
Nationwide, corn planting progress jumped 19 percentage points during the week of May13-19, up from 62 percent the previous week. States showing the largest gaps behind their five-year averages were Pennsylvania, which was 29 points behind average; South Dakota, 15 points behind average; Michigan, 13 points behind average; Wisconsin, 10 points behind average; and Minnesota, 7 points behind average.
Corn emergence, at 50 percent nationwide as of Sunday, May 20, was slightly behind last year’s 51 percent but ahead of the average pace of 47 percent.
Soybean planting remained ahead of average nationwide, except in the Northern states. Fifty-six percent of the crop was planted as of May 20, according to NASS, 12 percentage points ahead of the average of 44 percent. Twenty-six percent of soybeans were emerged, ahead of 17 percent last year and also ahead of the average of 15 percent.
Winter wheat was 61 percent headed, behind last year’s 71 percent and also behind the average of 64 percent. Winter wheat condition held steady through mid-May at 36 percent good to excellent, still the crop’s lowest rating since 2014-15. DTN’s winter wheat condition rating of 58 points was also the lowest in four years.
Spring wheat was 79 percent planted as of May 20, near the average pace of 80 percent. Thirty-seven percent of the crop was emerged, behind the five-year average of 52 percent.
Spring wheat planting was the furthest behind average in Montana, which, at 66 percent complete as of Sunday, was 20 points behind the five-year average of 86 percent. “I was around flooded areas of western Montana, but from the little I saw, I doubt the state will have trouble planting,” said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman. “Weather was in 60s and 70s and fields were green.”
Cotton was 52 percent planted as of May 20, compared to 36 percent last week, 49 percent last year and 45-percent average. Rice was 93 percent planted, compared to 83 percent last week, 90 percent last year and 89 percent on average. Seventy-four percent of the crop was emerged, compared to 61 percent last week, 77 percent last year and a 74 percent average.
Sorghum was 39 percent planted as of May 20, compared to 32 percent last week, 36 percent last year and a 38-percent average.
Barley was 81 percent planted, behind the average pace of 84 percent. Forty-five percent of the crop was emerged as of May 20, compared to an average of 58 percent. Oats were 86 percent planted, compared to 94 percent last year and a 91 percent average. Sixty-seven percent of oats were emerged, compared to 81 percent last year and a 77-percent average.
The following are highlights from weekly crop progress reports issued by NASS offices in individual states. To view the full reports from each state, visit www.nass.usda.gov. — DTN staff
