USDA releases crop progress report

May 05, 2015

Minnesota and North Carolina lead the way in corn planting

The United States Department of Agriculture released its crop progress report on Monday, giving farmers and anyone else with agricultural interests a clearer picture of what the harvesting season could look like.

The crop progress report differs from the planting intentions report that surveys farmers about what they intend to plant.

The corn, soybean and wheat numbers from the crop progress report will be focused on.

Corn Planted
Minnesota leads in the percentage of their corn that’s planted with 83%. By this time last year they only planted 7% of their corn.

They are followed by North Carolina who came in with 74% of their corn crops planted, up from last year’s 73% at this time.

Texas rounds out the top three states with corn planted. 70% of their crops are in the ground, a small decline from 72% last year aroundthis time.

Corn is currently selling for about $3.57 per bushel.

Corn, soybeans and wheat

Corn Emerged
Texas currently has 60% of their corn emerged, more than any other state in the report. That’s an increase from 58% a year ago.

North Carolina’s corn crop is 46% emerged, which is down from last year’s 52%.

Kansas rounds out the top three in corn emergence with 23% - an increase from the 18% documented in last year’s report.

Soybeans Planted
According to the report, Mississippi leads with 52% of their soybeans planted – up from 34% last year.

Farmers in Louisiana have planted around 40% of their soybean crops – a 13% decline from last year when they planted 67% of their soybeans at this time.

Minnesota has 32% of their soybeans in the ground now whereas, according to the report, at this time last year they hadn’t planted any.

Soybeans are selling for around $9.77 per bushel.

Spring Wheat Planted
According to the USDA crop progress report, Washington has 96% of their spring wheat planted. Up from 90% a year ago.

Minnesota has planted 95% of their spring wheat. A huge increase from only 4% last year at this time.

South Dakota is reporting 92% of their spring wheat is planted. That’s up from the 57% reported last May.

Wheat is currently selling for about $4.68 per bushel.

Spring Wheat Emerged
Washington reported 75% of their spring wheat is emerged, up from last May’s 57%.

Idaho, who didn’t factor in the top three of the spring wheat planted, reports that 65% of their spring wheat is emerged.

South Dakota reports that 56% of their spring wheat has already emerged, a significant jump from last May’s 10%.

Join the conversation and tell us your thoughts about the current numbers for corn, soybeans and wheat. Are you encouraged by the amount of crops planted and emerged?

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