USDA’s latest crop progress report, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through May 24, held some updated data points for traders to digest. Of particular note this past week, corn and soybean planting progress were a bit more sluggish than analysts were anticipating. Winter wheat quality ratings also took an unexpected drop, with analysts predicting modest gains on that front.
Corn plantings moved from 76% completion in the prior week up to 86% through Sunday. Analysts were expecting to see more progress there, offering an average trade guess of 89%. Still, 2026 is matching 2025’s pace of 86% so far and is three points ahead of the prior five-year average of 83%.
Emergence reached 60% through Sunday, up from 39% in the prior week. That’s moderately behind 2025’s pace of 65% but still ahead of the prior five-year average of 58%.
Soybean plantings moved from 67% completion a week ago up to 79% through May 24. As with corn, analysts were expecting to see more progress after offering an average trade guess of 82%. That puts this year’s pace four points above 2025’s pace of 75% and well above the prior five-year average of 68%.
Emergence improved from 32% a week ago up to 49%, meantime. That’s slightly ahead of 2025’s pace of 48% and noticeably above the prior five-year average of 40%.
Plantings for other regional crops were also updated in today’s report, including:
- Cotton at 53%
- Rice at 93%
- Sorghum at 36%
- Spring wheat at 86%
Winter wheat quality ratings faded another point lower this past week, with just 26% of the crop now in good-to-excellent condition. Analysts were expecting a one-point gain, in contrast. Another 30% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 44% rated poor or very poor (up one point from last week).
Physiologically, 78% of the crop is now headed, up from 71% a week ago. That’s moderately faster than 2025’s pace of 73% and the prior five-year average of 70%.
Click here for more data from today’s report, including a state-by-state look at topsoil and subsoil moisture, days suitable for fieldwork and more.