By Cheri Zagurski
DTN Managing Editor
OMAHA (DTN) -- Corn and spring wheat planting moved well ahead of the five-year average in the week ended April 17, according to USDA's latest weekly Crop Progress report.
Corn was 13% planted, compared to 4% last week, 7% last year and an 8% average. "Monday's report should be viewed as slightly bearish for corn," said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman.
Spring wheat planting was 27% complete, compared to 13% last week, 31% last year and 19% on average. "Monday's report is bearish for spring wheat," Hultman said.
Regarding corn planting, Cory Ritter of Blue Mound, Illinois, told DTN he has no complaints. "We got started Friday planting, at the end of the day today we will be over half done with corn," he wrote in an email. "Have some weather coming midweek. I hope to get a few more acres done tomorrow and it can rain. Can't complain about conditions. Going in great."
However, Bud Tate in east-central Mississippi has a different story to tell. "We are way behind planting corn; preventive planting dates are very close; and soybeans are going up in the Mississippi Delta ... Elvis is about to leave the building," he wrote in an email.
Winter wheat, on the other hand, is slightly behind average in heading at 12%, compared to 4% last week, 13% last year and a 15% average. Winter wheat condition improved slightly at 57% good to excellent compared to 56% last week.
"USDA's condition ratings resulted in a two-point increase in the DTN Winter Wheat Condition Index to 146," Hultman said. "DTN's index is up from 106 a year ago and well above the five-year average of 87. Monday's report is bearish for winter wheat."
Cotton is 7% planted, compared to 5% last week, 7% last year and a 10% average. Rice is 48% planted and 19% emerged, compared to 32% and 12% last week, 30% and 14% last year, and 36% and 19% on average.
Sorghum is 16% planted compared to 15% last week, 18% last year and a 21% average. Oats are 56% planted and 30% emerged, compared to 38% and 26% last week, 54% and 31% last year and 50% and 35% averages. Barley is 33% planted, compared to 19% last week, 38% last year, and a 26% average.
| National Crop Progress Summary |
| | This | Last | Last | 5-Yr |
| | Week | Week | Year | Avg |
| Corn Planted | 13 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| Winter Wheat Headed | 12 | 4 | 13 | 15 |
| Spring Wheat Planted | 27 | 13 | 31 | 19 |
| Cotton Planted | 7 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| Sorghum Planted | 16 | 15 | 18 | 21 |
| Oats Planted | 56 | 38 | 54 | 50 |
| Oats Emerged | 30 | 26 | 31 | 35 |
| Barley Planted | 33 | 19 | 38 | 26 |
| Rice Planted | 48 | 32 | 30 | 36 |
| Rice Emerged | 19 | 12 | 14 | 19 |
| National Crop Condition Summary |
| (VP=Very Poor; P=Poor; F=Fair; G=Good; E=Excellent) |
| | This Week | | Last Week | | Last Year |
| | VP | P | F | G | E | | VP | P | F | G | E | | VP | P | F | G | E |
| Winter Wht | 2 | 7 | 34 | 48 | 9 | | 2 | 7 | 35 | 48 | 8 | | 5 | 14 | 39 | 35 | 7 |
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