Planting activity ramped up across much of the U.S. last week, with progress accelerating for corn, soybeans, and spring wheat. However, cooler temperatures and scattered rain continue to create challenges in parts of the Midwest and Northern Plains.
Field conditions varied widely, and early signs of stress are beginning to show in certain areas as producers face tighter windows to complete planting.
Corn Planting Advances
Corn planting made a solid jump this week, with 24% of the crop planted as of April 27th. That’s up from 12% last week but still slightly behind the five-year average of 25%.
Texas continues to lead at 74% planted, followed by North Carolina at 60%, and Missouri at 47%. In the Corn Belt, Iowa stands at 34% planted, Illinois at 16%, and Indiana at 10%. Meanwhile, North Dakota remains slow at only 7% complete.
Corn emergence is starting to show in early planted areas, with 4% of the crop emerged nationally. That trails slightly behind the 5-year average of 6%.
Soybean Planting Gaining Momentum
Soybean planting is also picking up momentum. As of this week, 18% of soybeans are planted nationwide, compared to just 8% last week and ahead of the five-year average of 8%. Progress is slightly ahead of the 17% pace seen in 2024.
Southern states lead the way, with Louisiana at 70% planted and Mississippi at 54%. Key Midwestern states are also making strides — Iowa and Missouri both report 25% planted, while Illinois is at 22%.
Soybean emergence will begin to be reported over the next couple of weeks as conditions warm.
Spring Wheat Planting Shows Mixed Progress
Spring wheat planting progress improved this week but remains uneven. Nationally, 30% of the spring wheat crop is planted, up from 17% last week. However, that still slightly trails the five-year average of 31%.
South Dakota and Washington are leading with 79% planted. Meanwhile, North Dakota — typically the largest spring wheat producing state — remains behind at just 19% planted, a reflection of persistent cool, damp conditions
Emergence is starting slowly, with only 5% of spring wheat showing above ground.
Winter Wheat Heading and Conditions
27% of winter wheat acres are now headed, slightly ahead of last year’s pace (22%) and the 5-year average (22%).
However, conditions have softened. Nationally, 32% of the crop is rated good to excellent, down from 34% last week, while 15% is rated poor to very poor. Dryness remains a concern in parts of Kansas and Oklahoma.
Other Crops
- Cotton planting reached 14% complete, pacing closely with historical averages.
- Rice planting surged to 64% completion, notably ahead of the 48% mark a year ago, with emergence also moving forward quickly.
- Sorghum planting reached 19%, and peanut planting is beginning to pick up across the Southeast.
Field Conditions and Moisture
Topsoil moisture ratings improved slightly last week. Nationally:
- 61% of soils are rated adequate,
- 10% rated surplus,
- 20% short,
- 8% very short.
Subsoil moisture mirrors this trend closely. Nonetheless, localized dryness in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas could impact crop emergence if rains don’t materialize soon.
Fieldwork Days
The number of days suitable for fieldwork varied:
- Iowa only reported 2.3 days suitable, down sharply due to rains.
- Texas remained favorable at 6.4 days suitable.
- South Dakota and North Dakota also reported limited fieldwork windows.
Final Thoughts
Overall, U.S. farmers made solid gains last week despite some weather-related setbacks. However, planting windows are beginning to narrow, especially for corn in northern states. A return to warmer, drier weather would be needed to maintain momentum and avoid late planting penalties.
The next two weeks will be critical as the calendar moves into May and planting deadlines approach.
