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USDA: Winter wheat unchanged at 54% good/excellent

Corn 34% planted, soybeans 10% vs averages 34% and 7%.

Bob Burgdorfer, Senior Editor

May 2, 2017

2 Min Read
chas53/Thinkstock

Kansas acknowledged in a weekly report on Monday that winter wheat there may have been hurt by cold weather and snow and rated the state’s crop at 49% good to excellent, down 3 points from a week ago.

That Kansas state report was thin on details regarding the latest storm as most of the cold and snow occurred on Sunday, the final day of the reporting period. Private reports say some areas of western Kansas received a foot or more of snow and freezing temperatures.

Winter wheat nationwide was rated 54% good to excellent, unchanged from a week ago.

Corn planting increased to 34% as of Sunday to match the five-year average and soybean planting went to 10% versus the 7% average, USDA said in its weekly crop progress report. Corn emergence reached 9% versus 12% a year ago and the 8% average.

Kansas reported 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork with corn 38% planted versus 49% last year and the 41% average.

“Precipitation continued to fall across the entire state with several western counties receiving measureable snowfall,” Kansas said. “Cold temperatures, at or below freezing in many counties, raised concerns of possible damage to the wheat crop.”

Iowa corn was 28% planted versus 55% a year ago and the 35% average. As in Kansas, rain, snow and cold weather prevented fieldwork across much of Iowa.

“Many producers are waiting for warmer weather before planting corn and soybeans. For corn already planted, some concerns about crop emergence were reported,” Iowa said. “A hard freeze occurred over the north one-third of the state on Friday morning with temperatures as low as 22 degrees at Spencer and Mason City.”

Illinois corn planting went to 63% and was 20% emerged, both of which were ahead of the five-year averages. The state said rain prevented fieldwork during the latter half of the week.

Nebraska corn was 34% planted and 3% emerged. The plantings were up from the average, while emergence trailed the average by 1 point.

“Significant rainfall of an inch or more was recorded across a majority of counties. Moderate snow, averaging 2 to 4 inches, was recorded in south central and northeastern counties at the end of the week,” Nebraska said.

Spring wheat planting reached 31% and emergence 9%, compared with the 46% and 17% averages. North Dakota spring wheat was 18% planted versus the 33% average and 2% emerged versus the 9% average.

“The colder temperatures, along with rain and snow during the middle of the week, halted most fieldwork. The largest amount of precipitation was received in the eastern half of the state, with four to five inches of snow reported in many areas,” North Dakota said.

Corn planting in North Dakota was at 3% versus the 15% average.

Sorghum was 27% planted nationwide versus 23% a year ago and the 26% average. Louisiana was farthest along at 81% followed by Texas at 72%.

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