The latest USDA crop progress, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through April 12, folded in additional data points for traders to digest – most notably, the first round of soybean planting data. Planting pace is off to a swift start compared to the prior five-year average. Corn plantings are also proceeding a bit ahead of schedule so far, but that progress could be hampered moving forward with plenty of rain in the forecasts across the central U.S. later this month.
Corn plantings moved from 3% completion a week ago up to 5% through Sunday. Southern states Texas (63%), Tennessee (42%) and North Carolina (29%) continue to lead the pace. Five of the top 18 production states have still made no measurable progress, according to USDA. This season’s planting pace is slightly ahead of 2025 and the prior five-year average, both at 4%.
Soybean planting data debuted this week, with 6% completion as of April 12. Mississippi (39%), Tennessee (36%) and Louisiana (30%) are leading the way so far, and seven of the 18 top production states have yet to make measurable progress. This year’s plantings are moderately ahead of 2025 and the prior five-year average, both at 2%.
Planting for other regional crops were also updated in today’s report, including:
- Cotton at 7%
- Rice at 42%
- Sorghum at 13%
- Sugarbeets at 9%
- Spring wheat at 6%
Meantime, winter wheat quality ratings degraded a point lower, with 34% of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition. Analysts were expecting that number to hold steady. Another 34% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 32% rated poor or very poor (up one point from last week).
Physiologically, 11% of the crop is now headed, up from 7% last week. That’s ahead of 2025’s pace of 8% and the prior five-year average of 7%.
Click here to see more data from today’s report, including a state-by-state look at topsoil and subsoil moisture, days suitable for fieldwork and more.