USDA’s latest crop progress report, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through April 20, is giving traders more and more data to digest as the season gets more solidly underway. Of particular note, corn and soybean plantings were a bit speedier than analysts had predicted, while winter wheat quality was worse than expected.
Corn plantings moved from 4% completion a week ago up to 12% through Sunday. That was two points above the average trade guess. It’s also a bit faster than 2024’s pace of 11% and the prior five-year average of 10%.
Physiologically, 2% of the crop has emerged. Texas leads the way among the top 18 production states, with 63%. Meanwhile, only five of the top 18 production states have made measurable progress so far. Total crop emergence matches the prior five-year average and is one point behind 2024’s pace.
Soybean planting progress reached 8% last week, up from 2% through April 13. Louisiana leads the way, at 56%. Nationwide plantings so far are above 2024’s pace of 7% and the prior five-year average of 5%.
Plantings of some regional crops are also underway, including:
- Cotton at 11% (up from 5% last week)
- Sorghum at 17% (up from 15% last week)
- Rice at 48% (up from 32% last week)
- Peanuts at 3% (up from 1% last week)
- Sugarbeets at 21% (up from 11% last week)
Spring wheat plantings jumped from 7% a week ago up to 17% through Sunday. That’s faster than 2024’s pace of 14% and the prior five-year average of 12%. It was also four points higher than the average trade guess of 13%.
Winter wheat quality ratings took an unexpected turn lower, with 45% of the crop now rated in good-to-excellent condition – a two-point drop. Analysts were expecting that number to hold steady. Another 34% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 21% rated poor or very poor (up two points from last week).
Physiologically, 15% of the crop is now headed, up from 8% a week ago. That’s slightly behind 2024’s pace of 16% but modestly above the prior five-year average of 13%.
Click here for more data from today’s report, including a state-by-state look at topsoil and subsoil moisture, days suitable for fieldwork and more.