The Crop Progress report for the week of May 12 confirms only modest progress in planting. In the 18 reported states, just 30% of the corn crop and 9% of the soybeans have been planted versus 66% and 29% five-year averages respectively.
|
State
|
Corn planted as
of May 12
|
Increase from
previous week
|
Five-year average
for date
|
| Iowa |
48%
|
12%
|
76%
|
| Kansas |
46
|
5
|
67
|
| Nebraska |
46
|
11
|
72
|
| South Dakota |
4
|
4
|
54
|
Looking at soybeans, the 18 states added only 3 percentage points to planted acres. States we serve:
|
State
|
Beans planted as
of May 12
|
Increase from
previous week
|
Five-year average
for date
|
| Iowa |
13%
|
5%
|
31%
|
| Kansas |
7
|
2
|
16
|
| Nebraska |
20
|
6
|
20
|
| South Dakota |
0
|
0
|
19
|
Grain sorghum also is behind normal, but more modestly.
|
State
|
Sorghum planted as
of May 12
|
Five-year average
for date
|
| Kansas |
1
|
3
|
| Nebraska |
8
|
15
|
| South Dakota |
0
|
5
|
Spring wheat
South Dakota’s spring wheat crop is one percentage point ahead of the six-state average for planting, at 46%. This compares with the state’s average of 88% planted at this date and 67% average for the six states.
Little wonder, as the days suitable for fieldwork were very low:
Iowa 1.9 days
Kansas 1.1 days
Nebraska 2.7 days
South Dakota 1.7 days
Wyoming 3.1 days
Winter wheat headed
The winter wheat crop is running late as well given the cool wet weather.
| State |
Winter wheat headed |
Five-year average
|
| Kansas |
35%
|
64%
|
| Nebraska |
2%
|
12%
|
| South Dakota |
0%
|
1%
|
Condition is weighted on the top side, with 56% of the Kansas crop good/excellent and only 11% poor/very poor. Nebraska has 67% on the top end and 4 on the bottom and South Dakota, 68% and 6%. In the 18 states, 64% of the crop is good/excellent and 8% poor/very poor.
Huge swing from dryness
About a third of the crop land has surplus topsoil moisture, USDA reports, with the 48-state average at 34%. The states we report reflect the same tendency.
| State |
Surplus
|
Adequate
|
Short/Very short
|
| Iowa |
32
|
67
|
1
|
| Kansas |
36
|
62
|
2
|
| Nebraska |
17
|
79
|
4
|
| South Dakota |
39
|
61
|
0
|
| Wyoming |
10
|
83
|
7
|
Subsoil moisture is running similarly adequate to surplus, suggesting that when the crop gets into the ground, it will take a while before water becomes an issue – and the long-range weather outlook favors normal or more rainfall through the season.
Pasture conditions also look good, with 63% reported good/excellent in the 48 states and only 7% at the low end of ratings.
