Farmers worked around rain showers this past week to advance corn planting to 75% from 55% a year ago and well ahead of the 57% average, this week's USDA weekly crop progress report showed.

Soybean planting advanced to 31%, up from 18% a year ago and the 20% average. Corn's planting progress largely matched trade forecasts, while soybeans' exceeded them.

In top corn producer Iowa, planting went to 83% from last week's 68%.

The best gains were in eastern Midwest, where there was less rain. Indiana jumped 52% on corn from 21% the week before and Ohio went 55% from 15%. Indiana had 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork and Ohio 5.7, compared with Iowa's 2.5 and Illinois's 4.2.

USDA crop progress and condition report shows soybeans 31% planted; winter wheat up slightly at 44% good/excellent

Corn was 29% emerged nationally, versus 16% a year ago and the 24% average.

In Iowa, Illinois and Indiana soybean planting reached 30%, 33%, and 17% respectively. Iowa and Illinois are ahead of the averages, while Indiana trailed.

Wheat condition on page 2 >>

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The winter wheat rating rose 1 percentage point to 44% good/excellent. The Kansas rating was unchanged at 27%. Teams of crop scouts traveled through Kansas this week and concluded the crop was better than the previous year's poor crop, but drought and disease this year will  also produce a harvest under 300 million bushels

Spring wheat planting advanced to 87%, up from 33% a year ago and the 51% five-year average. The 87% was close to trade forecasts. Top producer North Dakota was 82% planted, well ahead of 10% a year ago and the 37% five-year average.

Spring wheat was 54% emerged, compared with 11% a year ago and the 25% average.

Topsoil moisture was plentiful in the Midwest and the Plains. Iowa was 93% adequate to surplus and Illinois 91%. Kansas 76%, Nebraska rose to 77%, Oklahoma also increased to 77% and Texas rose to 87%. North Dakota registered 81% from last week's 61%.

Sorghum was 32% planted, down slightly from 35% a year ago and the 33% average. Cotton was 26% planted, slightly behind last year's 28% and the 32% average.

Latest USDA crop progress and condition reports:
April 20 USDA crop progress report: U.S. corn planting at 9%
April 27 USDA crop progress report: U.S. corn planting at 19%
May 4 USDA crop progress report: U.S. corn planting at 55%