The latest USDA crop progress report, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through June 5, showed another good round of planting progress for both corn and soybeans, plus offered a first look at corn quality ratings for the young 2022 season. The agency also noted a one-point improvement in winter wheat crop quality, although it still remains among the worst years on record as harvest kicks off in some states.

Corn plantings reached 94% through Sunday, up from 86% a week ago and one point faster than the average trade guess. And while plantings are still below 2021’s pace of 98%, they have finally overtaken the prior five-year average of 92%. Among the top 18 production states, Pennsylvania (79%) and North Dakota (81%) still have the furthest to go. Seventy-eight percent of the crop is now emerged, versus the prior five-year average of 81%.

USDA also handed out its first round of quality ratings for corn in today’s report, marking 73% of the crop in good-to-excellent condition. That was five points better than the average trade guess of 68%. Another 23% is rated fair, with the remaining 4% rated poor or very poor.

Soybean plantings increased from 66% a week ago to 78% through Sunday. Analysts were hoping to see a bit more progress, offering an average trade guess of 80% prior to the report. That puts 2022 progress 11 points below 2021’s pace of 89% but just one point behind the prior five-year average of 79%. And 56% of the crop is now emerged, versus the prior five-year average of 59%.

Spring wheat plantings improved to 82% through June 5, versus 73% a week earlier. That’s three points short of the average trade guess of 85%. It’s also well behind 2021’s pace of 99% and the prior five-year average of 97%.

Winter wheat quality ratings improved slightly, firming a point to reach 30% rated in good-to-excellent conditions and matching analyst expectations. Another 305 of the crop is rated fair (down a point from last week), with the remaining 40% rated poor or very poor.

Physiologically, 79% of the crop is now headed, versus 72% a week ago and behind 2021’s pace and the prior five-year average, which were both 84%. Harvest progress has also been made in six of the top 18 production states, with Texas (36%) leading the way. That puts the national average at 5%, which is one point slower than the prior five-year average of 6%.

Click here for more about today’s USDA crop progress report, including the agency’s observations on days suitable for fieldwork and topsoil moisture conditions.