Corn planting progress is inching closer to being complete according to today’s USDA weekly progress report of the 18 primary producing states. Last week saw, 8% of the entire corn crop planted; bringing the total planted crop to 94%. This compares to a 5 year historical average and 2010 estimate of 98% and 99% respectively. Ohio remains the biggest laggard with only 58% of their crop planted compared to a 5 year average of 99%. Ohio represents approximately 4% of the total corn acres in the United States.

The USDA estimated corn emergence of 79% for the 2011 crop, which is below the 5 year historical average and 2010 estimate of 90% and 93% respectively. Corn crop conditions improved slightly last week, the percentage of crop rated good or excellent increased four percentage points to 67%. The gains came from the portion of the crop rated fair last week, which now represents 27% of the crop and 6% remains in poor or very poor condition. For the same time period in 2010 76% of the corn crop was in good or excellent condition, 19% was in fair condition, and 5% was in poor or very poor condition.

Soybean planting progress has been slow to improve, but with good weather on the horizon and the majority of corn acres planted farmers will be focused on wrapping up their soybean acres in the coming weeks. Of the 18 primary soybean producing states, 68% of soybeans have been planted and 44% have emerged. The 5 year historical average is 82% planted and 61% emerged. For this week last year, 83% of the soybean crop had been planted and 63% had emerged.

The planting of the 2011 spring wheat crop increased 11% over the previous week to 79%, but is still considerably behind the 5 year historical average of 98%. By this time last year, 97% of the spring wheat crop had been planted. Spring wheat emergence is also behind schedule. The USDA estimated that 57% of the crop has emerged; compared to a 5 year historical average and 2010 estimate of 92% and 89% respectively.

The USDA reported harvested winter wheat estimates this week at 10% of the total crop, compared to a 5 year average and 2010 estimates of 6% and 4% respectively. There was little change in the condition of the winter wheat crop. 34% of the crop is in good or excellent condition, while 44% is in poor or very poor condition. Last year, 66% of the crop was in good or excellent condition and 9% was in poor or very poor condition. The percent of headed winter wheat for this year’s crop was at 79% this week, which is 4% less than 2010 and 6% less than the 5 year historical average of 85% for the week.

Corn prices decreased 3% over the past week to close at $7.32 per bushel, soybeans continued their slight trend higher to close at $13.83 per bushel, and wheat fell 9% to $7.44. Year-over-year, corn, soybean, and wheat prices have increased 103%, 48%, and 63% respectively.

Next week we will have our first look at the USDA soybean crop condition estimates, along with the usual planting and emergence progress, crop conditions, and wheat harvest.

- Colvin