Corn Planting Progress advanced across the U.S. albeit and a continued slow pace.  USDA Crop Progress reports yesterday reported national corn planting at 28% complete and 5% emerged versus the five year average of 65% and 28%, respectively.  Soybean progress advanced marginally to 6% complete compared to the five year average of 24% complete.  Weather over the next few days should allow for further progress before more rains move across the cornbelt this weekend.

Dry conditions in the Northern Plains did allow for significant Hard Red Spring planting.  USDA reported national progress at 43% complete compared to the five year average of 63% for this week.  Winter wheat conditions were largely stable with no change in the percentage of crop rated good to very good.

In North Dakota,  much warmer weather conditions across the state allowed most producers to make good progress with their fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office.  According to reports, the warmer, drier weather allowed almost all producers across the state to either start preparing their fields for planting or make good progress in getting their crops in the ground. Statewide, on average, there were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork.  High winds have caused newly planted fields to dry quickly. Topsoil moisture supplies are rated 65 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 57 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Livestock conditions improved last week as a result of the better weather.  However, as a result of a blizzard received on April 15, some calf losses were reported due to scours and pneumonia.  Other livestock activities occurring last week were branding of calves and breeding of cows.

Spring wheat seeding for ND rated 26 percent complete, still behind last year at 92 percent and 53 percent average, but advanced 19 percentage points from last week. Emergence rated 1 percent, behind last year at 65 percent and 25 percent average.   Canola seeding rated 12 percent complete, behind last year at 78 percent and 36 percent for the average.  Sugarbeet planting rated 42 percent complete, behind last year at 99 percent and 68 percent average.  Corn planting rated 18 percent complete, behind 79 percent last year and 43 percent average.  Soybean planting rated 3 percent complete, behind last year at 45 percent and 14 percent average.

In South Dakota, most areas of the state made good progress planting small grains and row crops with 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, South Dakota Field Office. Seeding of small grains was above 70 percent and corn planting was over one-third complete. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 12 percent very short, 25 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 29 percent very short, 43 percent short, 27 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Even though pastures are slow to green up, livestock producers are beginning to take cattle to pastures due to decreasing forage supplies.

Winter wheat conditions rated 28 percent very poor, 33 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 5 percent good, and 0 percent excellent. Winter wheat headed rated 1 percent, behind 13 percent last year and 3 percent average.  Spring wheat seeding advanced 30 percentage points with 76 percent rated complete, behind last year’s 100 percent and 88 percent average. Spring wheat emerged rated 20 percent complete, also behind last year at 95 percent and 56 percent average.

Corn planting also advanced 30 percentage points with 37 percent rated complete, behind last year at 76 percent and 46 percent average. One percent of corn has emerged, behind last year at 35 percent and 10 percent average.  Soybean planting rated 6 percent complete, behind last year at 25 percent and 10 percent average.