In its first corn planting report of the season, USDA NASS estimated 3% of the nation’s crop had been planted as of Sunday, April 12.

So far, at least, that matches last year’s progress at the same time and is near the five-year average of 4%. Texas corn was 63% planted versus 53% a year ago, noted DTN Senior Analyst Dana Mantini.

In another first-of-the-season report, NASS estimated 6% of winter wheat was headed, slightly ahead of 5% last year and slightly behind the five-year average of 7%.

Winter wheat’s good-to-excellent condition rating, meanwhile, remained unchanged from the previous week at 62%. However, the crop’s poor-to-very-poor rating was up 1 percentage point from 9% the previous week to 10% last week.

“Some notable good-to-excellent winter wheat ratings were Nebraska and Oklahoma at 75%, Washington and South Dakota at 80%, Ohio at 74% and Kansas at 56%,” Mantini said.

Spring wheat was just 5% planted compared to a five-year average of 9%. The bulk of plantings were in Idaho and Washington.

Progress of other crops in NASS’ weekly report was running near to just slightly ahead or behind the average pace last week.

Sorghum was 18% planted, compared to 15% last year and a 17% five-year average. Oats were 32% planted as of April 12, compared to 29% last year and a 36% average. Oats emergence was at 24%, compared to 26% last year and a 27% average. Barley was 12% planted, ahead of 6% last year, but behind the five-year average of 15%.

Cotton planting was 9% complete, compared to 7% last year and a 6 average. Rice was 21% planted, compared to 24% last year and a 31% average. Rice emerged was 15%, slightly ahead of the average of 13%.

National topsoil and subsoil adequate-to-surplus ratings were 90% and 91%, respectively.

National Crop Progress Summary
This Last Last 5-Year
Week Week Year Avg.
Corn Planted 3 NA 3 4
Winter Wheat Headed 6 NA 5 7
Spring Wheat Planted 5 NA 2 9
Cotton Planted 9 7 7 6
Sorghum Planted 18 15 15 17
Barley Planted 12 NA 6 15
Oats Planted 32 26 29 36
Oats Emerged 24 24 26 27
Rice Planted 21 17 24 31
Rice Emerged 15 10 11 13

**

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
Winter Wheat 3 7 28 53 9 2 7 29 53 9 2 7 31 48 12

 

Anthony Greder can be reached at anthony.greder@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @AGrederDTN

Source: Anthony Greder, DTN