USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report - 97% of Corn, 88% of Soybeans Planted Week Ended June 12

OMAHA (DTN) -- Following a slow start this spring, both corn and soybean planting had caught up to the five-year average by the end of last week, USDA NASS said in its weekly Crop Progress report Monday. Corn emergence was also near normal, while soybean emergence was slightly behind average.

CORN

-- Planting progress: 97% nationwide as of Sunday, June 12, up 3 percentage points from the previous week and now even with the five-year average of 97%.

-- Notable states for planting: Nearly all major corn-producing states had either caught up to or exceeded their five-year averages last week. Nebraska was reporting all its corn crop planted, though farmers in some parts of the state may face replanting following hail damage last week. Iowa was also nearly finished at 99%. North Dakota remained the furthest behind with 90% of corn planted, 7 percentage points behind its average of 90%.

-- Crop development: 88% of corn was emerged nationwide as of Sunday, up 10 percentage points from the previous week and near the five-year average of 89%.

-- Crop condition: 72% of corn was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 73% the previous week but up from 68% a year ago. "Eighty-six percent of the corn in Iowa and 77% of corn in Illinois is in good-to-excellent condition," noted DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman. "Minnesota has a lower rating, at 58%."

SOYBEANS

-- Planting progress: 88% nationwide as of Sunday, up 10 percentage points from the previous week, and now also equal to the five-year average.

-- Notable states for planting: The "I" states had all surpassed their five-year averages in soybean planting by the end of last week. Meanwhile, some Northern states were still behind average. Furthest behind was North Dakota with 75% of soybeans planted, 19 percentage points behind its average of 94%. Minnesota soybeans were 88% planted, 8 percentage points behind the average of 96%. Kansas and Missouri were also behind average by 11 percentage points and 5 percentage points, respectively.

-- Crop development: 70% of soybeans had emerged nationwide as of Sunday, 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 74%.

-- Crop condition: In its first condition report of the season for soybeans, NASS rated the crop as 70% good to excellent, up from 62% at this time a year ago. "Eighty-two percent of Iowa soybeans and 76% of Illinois soybeans were rated good to excellent, strong starts for the top-producing states," Hultman said. "Minnesota's crop condition lags behind at 61% good to excellent."

WINTER WHEAT

-- Crop development: 86% of the winter wheat crop was headed nationwide as of Sunday, 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 90%.

-- Harvest progress: 10% of winter wheat was harvested as of Sunday, ahead of 5% last year, but 2 percentage points behind the five-year average of 12%. Texas led the way at 53% harvested, followed by Arkansas at 47% harvested.

-- Crop condition: 31% of winter wheat was rated good to excellent, up 1 percentage point from the previous week and now even with conditions in 2013 but 17 percentage points behind last year's rating at this time of 48% good to excellent. "Wheat in Arkansas has the highest rating at 81% good to excellent, while Texas and Montana have the lowest such ratings at 5% and 16%, respectively," Hultman said.

SPRING WHEAT

-- Planting progress: 94% of the spring wheat crop was planted as of Sunday, up 12 percentage points from the previous week, but down 5 percentage points from the five-year average.

-- Crop development: 72% of spring wheat was emerged, 21 percentage points behind the five-year average of 93%. "Only 56% of the crop has emerged in North Dakota, and 65% has emerged in Montana," Hultman noted. "This year's late development may be a problem down the road and adds interest to USDA's Acreage report on June 30."

-- Crop condition: In its first condition rating of the season for spring wheat, NASS pegged the crop's condition at 54% good to excellent, up from 37% a year ago, but with wide variation among the six states reporting. "Washington boasts the highest rating at 81% good to excellent, while Montana is the low end at 15%."

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

Mother Nature will crank up the heat early this week and then again this weekend into next week, which will initially benefit emerging crops in some parts of the country but could stress crops in other dry areas, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick. Storms with strong winds are also possible in some areas this week in the Northern U.S.

"Heat has spread through the middle of the country under a ridge of high pressure," Baranick said. "A trough in the West will move across Canada and the Northern U.S. this week, bringing a storm system and across the northern half of the country. Along with dropping temperatures across the north, it will provide some limited shower and thunderstorm potential in spots. Winds may be strong across the Northern Plains and Canadian Prairies on the backside of the system Wednesday and Thursday where gust exceeding 45 miles per hour will be possible.

"The ridge and subsequent heat will build back up from west to east this weekend into next week. The heat is expected to be favorable for crop growth initially, especially across Northern areas that have been cold and seen crop development be fairly slow, but the heat will stress crops in dry areas such as the Central and Southern Plains, and perhaps portions of the Delta and Southeast as well. Areas across the south that are seeing an end to the active period we saw this spring will see worsening conditions over time."