Farmers in the waterlogged midsection of the U.S. continued to slowly slog along in planting corn and soybeans last week, but made little headway in narrowing the gap between this year’s progress and the five-year average, according to USDA NASS’ weekly Crop Progress report released Tuesday. The report was delayed a day due to the Memorial Day holiday.

An estimated 58% of U.S. corn was planted as of Sunday, the slowest progress since at least 1980. Corn planting was up 9 percentage points from 49% the previous week but was still well behind 90% at the same time last year and 32 percentage points behind the five-year average of 90%. That was further behind average than in last week’s report when corn planting was 31 percentage points behind the average pace.

“Major corn-producing states with especially slow progress included Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and South Dakota,” said DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman.

Corn emergence also continued to be slow with an estimated 32% of the crop emerged as of Sunday, the lowest total for this time of year since 2008. Emergence was far behind 69% last year and 37 percentage points behind the five-year average of 69%. In last week’s report, emergence was 30 percentage points behind the average.

Soybean planting progress continued to fall further behind the average pace. As of Sunday, an estimated 29% of the crop was planted, the slowest progress since 2009, said Hultman. Progress was up 10 percentage points from the previous week but was behind last year’s 74% and 37 percentage points behind the five-year average of 66%. In last week’s report, soybean planting was 28 percentage points behind average. Soybeans emerged was 11%, 24 percentage points behind the average of 35%.

Outside of the Southern states, Nebraska showed the most progress in soybean emergence at 23%, Hultman noted.

Spring wheat growers continued to close the gap between 2019 planting progress and the five-year average last week. NASS estimated that 84% of spring wheat was planted as of Sunday, 7 percentage points behind the five-year average of 91%. That was closer to the average pace than the previous week when planting was 10 percentage points behind normal. South Dakota showed the least spring wheat planting progress at 79%.

Spring wheat emerged, at 47%, was 22 percentage points behind the five-year average of 69%.

Winter wheat was 66% headed as of Sunday, behind last year’s 71% and 10 percentage points behind the five-year average of 76%. USDA estimated that 61% of winter wheat was in good-to-excellent condition, down 5 percentage points from 66% the previous week.

Sorghum was 28% planted, compared to 48% last year and a five-year average of 44%. Oats were 85% planted as of May 26, compared to 93% last year and an average of 96%. Oats emerged were at 65%, compared to 80% last year and an average of 86%.

Cotton planting was 57% complete, compared to 61% last year and near the average of 58%. Rice was 84% planted, compared to 97% last year and an average of 96%. Sixty-three percent of rice was emerged, compared to 83% last year and an average of 83%.

Surplus topsoil moisture remained especially high in the eastern Midwest with Illinois at 70% and Michigan at 69%, Hultman noted.

To view weekly crop progress reports issued by National Ag Statistics Service offices in individual states, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/…. Look for the U.S. map in the “Find Data and Reports by” section and choose the state you wish to view in the drop-down menu. Then look for that state’s “Crop Progress & Condition” report.

National Crop Progress Summary
This Last Last 5-Year
Week Week Year Avg.
Corn Planted 58 49 90 90
Corn Emerged 32 19 69 69
Soybeans Planted 29 19 74 66
Soybeans Emerged 11 5 44 35
Winter Wheat Headed 66 54 71 76
Spring Wheat Planted 84 70 89 91
Spring Wheat Emerged 47 26 59 69
Cotton Planted 57 44 61 58
Sorghum Planted 28 26 48 44
Barley Planted 87 76 91 93
Barley Emerged 54 39 65 74
Oats Planted 85 77 93 96
Oats Emerged 65 53 80 86
Rice Planted 84 73 97 96
Rice Emerged 63 52 83 83

**

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 2 7 30 48 13 2 6 26 50 16 14 20 28 30 8
Oats 3 5 34 51 7 NA NA NA NA NA 2 5 27 56 10
Rice 1 5 30 54 10 NA NA NA NA NA – 2 25 62 11

**

National Soil Moisture Condition – 48 States
(VS = Very Short; SH = Short; AD = Adequate; SR = Surplus)
This Week Last Week Last Year
VS SH AD SR VS SH AD SR VS SH AD SR
Topsoil Moisture 1 7 55 37 1 7 61 31 8 20 63 9
Subsoil Moisture 1 7 59 33 1 6 64 29 8 21 64 7

Source: Anthony Greder, DTN