USDA released its first Crop Progress Report of the 2024 growing season on April 1. Here’s a look at the most recent corn, oats, and wheat numbers.
Corn planting progress
USDA says as of March 31st, 2% of the 2024 corn crop has been planted in the top 18 corn-growing states. This is above the five-year average of 1%.
According to today’s report, corn planting has begun in six of the 18 states:
- Illinois: 1% planted
- Kansas: 2% planted
- Kentucky: 2% planted
- Missouri: 2% planted
- Tennessee: 2% planted
- Texas: 57% planted
By the same week last year, only five states had started planting corn. Kansas and Kentucky were at 1% and 2% progress, respectively. North Carolina was 1% planted by this time last year. Texas was 56% planted. Tennessee’s planting progress was at 1%.
Oat crop progress
USDA says across all nine of the top oat-growing states, 30% of the crop has been planted, ahead of the five-year average of 24%.
A quarter of the crop has emerged, ahead of the five-year average of 22%.
Winter wheat progress
Winter wheat has headed in three of the top 18 growing states, so far. This represents 4% of the crop, ahead of the five-year average of 2%.
According to the report, the condition of the winter wheat crop in the top growing states currently rates as follows:
- 56% is in good/excellent condition
- 33% is in fair condition
- 11% is in poor/very poor condition.
Spring wheat progress
With progress at 1%, USDA says spring wheat planting has begun in half of the top six growing states.
The overall planting progress is on track with the five-year average. On a state-by-state basis, Idaho is ahead of average while South Dakota and Washington are behind.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
You can bet that every farmer/rancher in the country is itching for spring fieldwork to begin. Once underway, there is no stopping. It’s long days and weekends to stay ahead of Mother Nature. Once the crops are in the ground then weather conditions take over to determine the outcome next fall. It is good to reflect on just what farmers/ranchers go through during a typical growing season. Not only are they at the mercy of the weather, but they are price takers, prices determined by forces way beyond their control. Plus, harvest conditions can always be uncertain as well. It appears we are off to a good start in 2024 and trust that the year will be another good one financially for farmers/ranchers everywhere in the U.S. When they do have a good year, they purchase a lot of trucks!
