USDA’s latest crop progress report, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through May 17, showed corn and soybean plantings staying moderately ahead of their relative prior five-year averages, despite some rainy slowdowns in some areas over the past week. Also of note, winter wheat quality ratings eased another point lower, which have now slumped 14 points below the prior five-year average.
Corn plantings improved from 57% completion a week ago up to 76% as of Sunday. That was slightly above the average analyst estimate of 75%, with individual trade guesses ranging between 73% and 78%. That was also identical to 2025’s pace and moderately ahead of the prior five-year average of 70%.
Physiologically, emergence trended from 23% a week ago up to 39% through May 17. That’s behind 2025’s pace of 47% but slightly ahead of the prior five-year average of 37%.
Soybean plantings improved from 49% to 67% this past week, mirroring analysts’ expectations. Individual trade guesses ranged between 64% and 70%. That leaves this spring’s progress moderately ahead of 2025’s pace of 63% and noticeably above the prior five-year average of 53%.
Emergence reached 32% through May 17, up from 20% in the prior week. That matches 2025’s pace and is significantly faster than the prior five-year average of 23% so far.
Plantings for other regional crops were also updated in today’s report, including:
- Cotton at 41%
- Rice at 88%
- Sorghum at 30%
- Sugarbeets at 98%
- Spring wheat at 73%
Winter wheat quality ratings eroded another point lower this past week, with 27% of the crop now rated in good-to-excellent condition. Analysts were expecting to see ratings hold steady, in contrast. Another 30% of the crop is rated fair (down two points from last week), with the remaining 43% rated poor or very poor (up three points from last week).
Physiologically, 71% of the crop is now headed, up from 61% a week ago. That’s also much more swift than 2025’s pace of 62% and the prior five-year average of 58%.
Click here to access more data from today’s report, including a state-by-state look at topsoil and subsoil moisture, days suitable for fieldwork and more.