As USDA continues to release its weekly crop progress reports for the 2026 season, the agency adds additional valuable data points for traders to assess. This week marked the first report that included corn and soybean quality ratings, which both came in slightly below analysts’ expectations. Also of note, USDA began tracking the 2025-26 winter wheat harvest, with most progress happening in the Southern Plains so far.
Corn plantings moved from 86% completion a week ago up to 93% through May 31. That was slightly below the average trade guess of 94%. Aside from Pennsylvania (59%) and Ohio (73%), the other top 18 production states have made it to at least 85% completion. This year’s effort is slightly faster than 2025’s pace of 92% and the prior five-year average of 92%.
Corn emergence improved from 60% last week to 76% through Sunday. That is identical to 2025’s pace and slightly ahead of the prior five-year average of 74%.
Quality ratings came in at 67% of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition, which was two points below last year’s mark of 69%. It was also a bit below the average trade guess of 70%. Another 28% of the crop is rated fair, with the remaining 5% rated poor or very poor.
Soybean plantings moved from 79% a week ago up to 87% though May 31, matching analyst expectations. That keeps 2026 progress ahead of both 2025’s pace of 83% and the prior five-year average of 80%. Emergence reached 65%, versus the prior five-year average of 57%.
The first crop condition data of 2026 showed 66% of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition, which was just below the average trade guess of 67% and one point behind year-ago ratings. Another 29% of the crop is rated fair, with the remaining 5% rated poor or very poor.
Plantings for other regional crops were also updated in today’s report, including:
- Cotton at 66%
- Rice at 98%
- Sorghum at 44%
- Spring wheat at 94%
Winter wheat quality ratings were mostly steady, with 26% of the crop in good-to-excellent condition through Sunday. Analysts were expecting to see a one-point move higher. Another 30% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 44% rated poor or very poor (also unchanged from last week).
Physiologically, 87% of the crop is headed through Sunday, up from 78% in the prior week. That’s ahead of both 2025’s pace of 82% and the prior five-year average of 79%. Five percent of the 2025-26 harvest is now complete, with Oklahoma (23%) and Texas (23%) leading the top 18 production states by far. This year’s harvest is faster than both 2025’s pace of 3% and the prior five-year average of 3%.
Click here for more data points from today’s report, including a state-by-state look at topsoil and subsoil moisture, days suitable for fieldwork and more.