Special Report

2% of U.S. corn crop planted

USDA’s first national corn planting update of 2013 shows the pace well behind the five year average.

As of Sunday, 2% of the U.S. corn crop is planted, compared to 16% a year ago and the five year average of 7% with nine of the top 18 growing states yet to have even 1% of the crop planted. North Carolina and Texas are the only major corn states to be at or ahead of their respective averages.

4% of the winter wheat crop has headed, compared to 28% last year and 12% on average. 36% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, unchanged from last week but down 28% from a year ago. 33% is fair, 1% less than last week, and 31% is in poor to very poor shape, 1% more than a week ago.

6% of the spring wheat crop is planted, compared to 33% last year and the five year average of 13%. Out of the six largest spring wheat producing states, only Idaho and Washington are ahead of average.

USDA’s next national crop progress report is out Monday, April 22 at 4 PM Eastern/3 PM Central.