USDA Weekly Crop Progress

By Cheri Zagurski
DTN Managing Editor

OMAHA (DTN) — Corn producers across the United States outdid themselves this week, propelling the amount of acres planted to 71% by Sunday, May 19. Last week only 28% of the nation’s crop was in the ground. This pace is reportedly a record-setter.

Thanks to last week’s sprint, planting progress is now only 8 percentage points behind the five-year average, an average that includes last year’s blistering 95% planted rate.

"If my math is correct, and USDA is still using its 97.3 million acre corn planting projection, then over 41.8 ma were planted last week," said DTN Senior Analyst Darin Newsom.

Nineteen percent of the corn is emerged, compared to 5% last week and a 46% five-year average.

"Despite rains over the past weekend, corn planting should speed to an end, putting the attention on emergence," said Newsom. "This could remain a concern as a slower emergence pace pushes silking, doughing, and denting deeper into the heat of the summer."

The report should be viewed as bearish for corn, Newsom said.

Soybean planting progress rose to 24%, compared to 6% last week and a 42% five-year average. Three percent of the soybean crop has emerged, compared to a 14% five-year average.

The numbers should be viewed as bearish for soybeans, Newsom said.

Winter wheat headed rose to 43%, compared to 29% last week and a 62% five-year average. Winter wheat conditions worsened to 41% poor to very poor, compared to 39% last week. It’s uncertain how much, if any, of this past weekend’s severe weather damage is factored into these condition ratings.

"The drop in ratings led to a DTN Winter Wheat Crop Condition Index of only 32 points," Newsom said. "Last week this index came in at 39 points. Key states continue to decline with the Kansas crop showing a rating of 26 points, Oklahoma (-7) points, and Texas (-94) points.

"The percent headed as of Sunday, May 19, was reported at 43% as compared to the five-year average of 62%. Kansas was pegged at 41%, Oklahoma 79%, and Texas 70%, all well behind average."

The numbers are bullish for winter wheat, Newsom said.

Spring wheat planting increased to 67% complete, compared to 43% last week and a 76% five-year average. Twenty-two percent of the crop was emerged, compared to 10% last week and a 49% five-year average.

"Spring wheat, like corn and soybeans, saw a great deal of work done as the weather finally cleared," Newsom said. "Minnesota jumped to 71% from the previous report’s 19%, while North Dakota nearly doubled its plantings to 50% completed."

Oats were 86% planted, compared to 70% last week and a 91% five-year average. Emergence was reported at 62%, compared to 47% last week and a 77% five-year average. Oat conditions, reported for the first time this year are 47% good to excellent.

Barley is 70% planted, compared to 55% last week and a 77% five-year average. Barley emergence is reported at 35%, compared to 25% last week and a 47% five-year average.

Sorghum is 35% planted, compared to 29% last week and a 42% five-year average.

Cotton is 39% planted, compared to 23% last weke and a 52% five-year average. Rice is 80% planted and 60% emerged with a condition rating of 54% good to excellent.

National Crop Progress Summary
This Last Last 5-Yr
Week Week Year Avg
Corn Planted 71 28 95 79
Corn Emerged 19 5 73 46
Soybeans Planted 24 6 71 42
Soybeans Emerged 3 NA 32 14
Sorghum Planted 35 29 53 42
Rice Planted 80 69 90 84
Rice Emerged 60 49 80 67
Oats Planted 86 70 99 91
Oats Emerged 62 47 94 77
Barley Planted 70 55 97 77
Barley Emerged 35 25 76 47
Spring Wheat Planted 67 43 98 76
Spring Wheat Emerged 22 10 82 49
Winter Wheat Headed 43 29 80 62
Cotton Planted 39 23 59 52
National Crop Condition Summary
(VP=Very Poor; P=Poor; F=Fair; G=Good; E=Excellent)
This Week Last Week Last Year
VP P F G E VP P F G E VP P F G E
W Wheat 21 20 28 27 4 20 19 29 27 5 4 10 28 45 13
Rice 1 7 38 38 16 NA NA NA NA NA 1 5 28 51 15
Oats 5 10 38 41 6 NA NA NA NA NA 2 3 21 57 17

Please send comments to talk@telventdtn.com.

(AG)

Print Friendly