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USDA’s crop progress report shows ongoing drought conditions
Drought conditions are generally persisting according to USDA’s national crop progress and condition report Monday. Topsoil moisture is rated 50 percent adequate with 19 percent short and 16 percent very short. Subsoil moisture is 50 percent adequate with 23 percent short and 17 percent very short.
Corn planting is ahead of last year and the five-year average with four percent of the crop in the ground nationally.
Winter wheat remains in mostly bad condition, rated 33 percent good to excellent and 36 percent poor to very poor. Five percent of the crop has headed, even with last year.
Spring wheat is six percent planted, doubling last week’s total, but four percent behind last year.
Cotton is eight percent planted nationally, up two percent on the week and one percent ahead of last year.
Sorghum is 14 percent planted. That’s up one percent on the week and even with last year. Texas remains the only state with any notable planting at nearly 50 percent.
Rice is 17 percent planted, up five percent on the week. The crop is behind the five-year average by seven percent and five percent behind last year.
Oats are nearly 30 percent planted, eight percent behind last year.
The USDA’s next set of planting and condition estimates is out April 18th.