USDA Crop Progress: Corn 83% Planted, Soybeans 68% Planted as of May 26

This article was originally published at 3:03 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, May 28. It was last updated with additional information at 4:03 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, May 28.

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OMAHA (DTN) — Periods of heavy rain across the country slowed corn planting last week, but overall, progress nationwide inched slightly ahead of the five-year average pace, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress on Tuesday. The report is normally released on Mondays but was delayed this week due to Memorial Day.

Soybean planting maintained a steady pace last week, and nationwide, progress remained ahead of the five-year average.

“Active weather continued last week, and heavy rain fell in periods across most of the country outside of the southwestern Plains, where dryness has been a concern for winter wheat,” said DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick. “It wasn’t a washout all week long, though, so some planting was able to be done anyway.”

CORN

— Planting progress: Corn planting moved ahead 13 percentage points last week, slower than the previous week’s 21-percentage-point jump. Nevertheless, planting reached 83% complete nationwide as of Sunday, May 26, 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 82%. This year’s progress continues to lag last year by 6 percentage points. “Iowa corn is 88% planted and Illinois is at 80%,” noted DTN Senior Analyst Dana Mantini. “Pennsylvania is lagging at 53% planted, 13 points below average.”    

— Crop development: 58% of corn had emerged as of Sunday, 8 points behind last year but equal to the five-year average.

SOYBEANS

— Planting progress: Soybean planting moved ahead 16 points last week, close to the previous week’s pace of 17 percentage points, to reach 68% complete as of Sunday. That was 10 percentage points behind last year’s pace of 78% but 5 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 63%. “Illinois’ soybean crop is 72% planted, and Iowa is at 73%,” Mantini noted.

— Crop development: 39% of soybeans had emerged as of Sunday, 11 points behind last year’s 50% but 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 36%. “North Dakota and South Dakota soybeans are lagging at just 9% and 17% emerged, respectively,” Mantini said.

WINTER WHEAT

— Crop development: 77% of winter wheat was headed as of Sunday. That was 8 points ahead of 69% at this time last year and 8 points ahead of the five-year average of 69%.

— Crop condition: 48% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 from 49% the previous week but still up considerably from 34% a year ago. The percentage rated very poor to poor was up 1 point to 19% but still much less than last year’s 35% at this time.

SPRING WHEAT

— Planting progress: 88% of spring wheat was planted as of Sunday, 9 points ahead of 79% last year and 7 points ahead of the five-year average of 81%. “North Dakota’s spring wheat is 84% planted, and Minnesota’s crop is 96% done,” Mantini said.   

— Crop development: 61% of spring wheat has emerged, 11 points ahead of 50% last year and 9 points ahead of the five-year average of 52%.

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

More precipitation is in the forecast for much of the country again this week, according to Baranick.

“This week is another week of wet conditions. A system spinning over the Great Lakes and a stalled front in the Southern Plains are keeping showers going early on in the week, and then another system in the Pacific Northwest will send a front through the Plains on Wednesday. That front will pivot to be around the Central Plains and Midwest for the rest of the week. Disturbances near that boundary will cause it to waffle around through the weekend and produce areas of showers and thunderstorms. Despite not having a lot of access to moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, areas of heavy rain are forecast between the Rockies and the Mississippi River, with moderate amounts east of there. That continues to be an obstacle for the remaining planting and replanting process. Though some heavy rain may cause flooding in spots, the moisture will be largely helpful for those with seed in the ground, however.

“Rain will fall in some areas of the southwestern Plains, but it is getting to be too late for a lot of wheat down there that is heading into maturity, with some reports of early harvest from the warmer conditions all spring.

“Those in the Southeast are least likely to see additional precipitation this week, which is favorable for continued cotton and other spring planting. Good soil moisture continues down there where they can handle a drier week with no issue.”

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Editor’s Note: How are your crops looking? Are they better, worse or right on track with USDA NASS’ observations this week? Send us your comments, and we’ll add them to the Crop Progress report story. You can email comments to Anthony.greder@dtn.com or direct message him on social platform X @AGrederDTN. Please include the location of where you farm.

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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.

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

Following on social platform X @AGrederDTN