USDA’s latest crop progress report, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through April 26, showed corn and soybean plantings exceeding their respective prior five-year averages, despite dealing with some wet weather in parts of the Midwest (with more rains expected later this week). Winter wheat quality ratings held steady but are not in great shape, with just 30% of the crop in good-to-excellent condition.
Corn plantings moved from 11% completion a week ago up to 25% as of Sunday. That’s more movement than the average trade guess of 23%. It is also moderately ahead of 2025’s pace of 22% and the prior five-year average of 19%. North Dakota stands alone among the top 18 production states as not having made any official progress, per USDA.
Emergence moved from 4% a week ago up to 7%. That is also ahead of 2025’s pace of 5% and the prior five-year average of 4%.
Soybean plantings moved from 12% a week ago up to 23% as of April 26. That was slightly ahead of the average trade guess of 22%. It’s also moderately ahead of 2025’s pace of 17% and nearly double the five-year average of 12%. Emergence is at 8%, which is noticeably faster than 2025’s pace of 2% and the prior five-year average of 1%.
Plantings for other regional crops were also updated in today’s report, including:
- Cotton at 16%
- Rice at 69%
- Sorghum at 20%
- Sugarbeets at 15%
- Spring wheat at 19%
Winter wheat quality ratings remained unchanged, with 30% of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition. Analysts were predicting another one-point drop. Another 35% of the crop is rated fair, with the remaining 35% rated poor or very poor.
Physiologically, 34% of the crop is headed, up from 20% a week ago. That’s a big jump versus 2025’s pace of 25% and the prior five-year average of 21%.
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.