According to the report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 17 out of 18 major U.S. states have already begun planting corn by this time, with 12% of the planned area already sown. This figure exceeds the 5-year average of 10%.
It is noted that seeding has not yet begun only in North Dakota. However, corn emergence has already been reported in Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
As for soybean planting, by April 20th, oilseed soybeans were planted on 8% of the planned area (compared to 5% on average for the last 5 years). Significant progress has been noted in Arkansas (32% of the planned area), Illinois (10%), Indiana (3%), Iowa (11%), Kansas (5%), Kentucky (7%), Louisiana (56%), Minnesota (3%), Mississippi (35%), Missouri (15%), Nebraska (2%), North Carolina (7%), Tennessee (15%), and Wisconsin (2%).
It is also highlighted that the winter wheat crop in the U.S. has been harvested from 15% of the planned area by this period (compared to 13% on average for the last 5 years). 45% of the crops are in good and excellent condition, 34% are in fair condition, and 21% are in poor to very poor condition.
According to the report, spring wheat planting has been completed on 17% of the planned area (compared to 12% on average for the last 5 years), with the most progress noted in Washington state, where planting has reached 57% of the planned area.