Cold, wet weather is holding the spring planting season to a slow start, says the weekly Crop Progress report from USDA. At the start of this week, 6 pct of corn was planted in the major states vs the usual 22 pct. The top five states – Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Indiana, in order – are all behind average. Planting hasn’t started yet in Minnesota and Indiana has planted 1 pct. Iowa has sown 2 pct vs the usual 11 pct. Illinois is at 5 pct vs its usual 22 pct. Nebraska is the closest to normal – 4 pct vs usual 6 pct.
Ratings dropped slightly for the winter wheat crop, struggling with drought in the central and southern Plains. Overall, 33 pct of the crop is rated poor or very poor, 1 point worse than a week ago. The good/excellent rating is steady at 34 pct. Next week’s Crop Progress report will carry the first figures on soybean plantings.