USDA crop progress report: U.S. corn planting at 85%

Soybeans 45% planted; winter wheat slightly better at 45% good/excellent in USDA weekly crop progress and condition report

Bob Burgdorfer, Senior Editor

May 18, 2015

2 Min Read

Farmers again worked in between rain showers to advance corn planting with 85% done as of Sunday week, which compares with 71% a year ago and the 75% average, the latest USDA weekly crop progress report showed.

Soybean planting advanced to 45%, up from 31% a year ago and the 36% average. The corn and soybean numbers largely matched trade forecasts.

Emergence for corn was 56% versus 32% last year and the 40% average and soybeans were 13% versus 8% a year ago and the 12% average.

In top corn producer Iowa, planting went to 92% from 83% last week and the 84% average. Emergence there was 63% versus 29% last week and the 44% average.

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USDA crop progress and condition report: Soybeans 45% planted; winter wheat slightly better at 45% good/excellent

In Iowa, Illinois and Indiana soybean planting reached 51%, 47%, and 36% respectively. Iowa and Illinois are ahead of the averages, while Indiana trailed.

Freezing temperatures and snow occurred in North Dakota Sunday night, but the state's report said it was too early to assess the impact on crops. It did say significant snow in south central North Dakota caused some deaths of newborn calves and lambs.

Wheat condition page 2 >>

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The nation's winter wheat rating rose 1 percentage point to 45% good/excellent. The Kansas rating improved slightly to 29% from 27%.

The Kansas report said the state averaged about 1 inch of rain last week, with some areas receiving up to 3 inches. It said 86% of that crop was headed, compared with the 67% average.

Spring wheat planting advanced to 94% from 47% a year ago and the 65% average. The crop was 67% emerged ahead of 22% a year ago the 38% average. Top producer North Dakota was 90% planted, well ahead of the 51% five-year average, and 53% emerged versus the 28% average.

Topsoil moisture was plentiful in the Midwest and the Plains. Iowa was 96% adequate to surplus, Illinois 97%, Kansas 85%, Nebraska 84%, Oklahoma 80% and Texas 92%. North Dakota registered 96%.

Sorghum was 38% planted, which matched the average but was down slightly from 39% a year ago. Cotton was 35% planted, behind last year's 44% and the 46% average.