USDA Crop Progress Report - Corn 81% Planted, Soybeans 66% Planted as of May 21

OMAHA (DTN) -- Corn and soybean planting continued ahead of the average pace last week, spring wheat planting accelerated, and winter wheat condition improved slightly, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress Report on Monday.

CORN

-- Planting progress: Corn planting moved ahead 16 percentage points last week, the same pace as the previous week, to reach 81% as of Sunday, May 21. That's still 12 percentage points ahead of last year's 69% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 75%. Notable states: Iowa and Illinois are 95% and 91% planted, respectively, and both are ahead of average, noted DTN Senior Analyst Dana Mantini. Minnesota corn is 80% planted, Nebraska is 87% and Missouri is 97% planted. North Dakota moved up 27 points to 32% planted compared to the 50% average.

-- Crop progress: 52% of corn had emerged as of Sunday, up 22 percentage points from the previous week and 7 percentage point ahead of the average of 45%.

SOYBEANS

-- Planting progress: Soybean planting sped up slightly last week, moving ahead 17 percentage points last week compared to a 14-percentage-point jump the previous week to reach 66% as of Sunday. That is 19 percentage points ahead of last year's 47% and 14 points ahead of the five-year average of 52%. Notable states: Illinois and Iowa soybeans are at 84% and 85% planted, respectively, Mantini said. North Dakota gained 18 points to 20% planted -- still behind the 33% average. Minnesota is 53% planted and just 4 points behind the average.

-- Crop progress: 36% of soybeans were emerged as of Sunday, 17 percentage points ahead of last year's 19% and 12 points ahead of the average of 24%.

WINTER WHEAT

-- Crop development: 61% of winter wheat was headed nationwide as of Sunday, up 12 percentage points from the previous week and now even with the five-year average. Top-producer Kansas is 73% headed -- just 2 points below average.

-- Crop condition: Nationwide, winter wheat was rated 31% good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from 29% from the previous week and ahead of last year's rating at the same time of 28% good to excellent. Kansas' crop is rated at 10% good to excellent and 69% poor to very poor, while Oklahoma is 10% good to excellent and 52% very poor to poor, Mantini said.

SPRING WHEAT

-- Planting progress: 64% of the spring wheat crop was planted as of Sunday, up 24 percentage points from the previous week and now 9 percentage points behind the five-year average of 73%. Notable states: Minnesota is above the average at 74% planted, while North Dakota is 48% planted compared to the 65% average but moved up 28 points for the week.

-- Crop progress: 32% of spring wheat was emerged as of Sunday, up 19 percentage points from the previous week and 8 percentage points behind the five-year average of 40%.

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

More rain is in store for the Plains this week, which will help with drought reduction but could delay planting in some areas, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick. The Eastern Corn Belt is expected to be dry this week.

"This week's weather is almost certainly focused on the Plains," Baranick said. "A weakness in a broad ridge of high pressure across much of North America is settled in the West. It will provide enough energy to produce areas of showers and thunderstorms across the western half of the country. The ridge will provide the warmth and moisture, and areas of showers and thunderstorms will expand across the Plains all week long. These showers may or may not make it into the eastern Plains or western Midwest but will certainly fall over large portions of those areas in deep drought across the Central and Southern Plains. For those yet to plant, it may be a bit difficult. Those in North Dakota, especially, may have the most issues if they cannot get into their fields before the end of the week, but the further reduction in drought should be seen as a positive weather pattern for the country's crops and forages.

"The eastern half of the Corn Belt is going to be much drier, but many of these areas are in good shape with soil moisture at the moment. If the dryness extends well into June, then we can start to worry about them. But not yet.

"Temperatures will be fairly ideal with a lot of 70s and 80s Fahrenheit across the country."