By Cheri Zagurski
DTN Managing Editor

OMAHA (DTN) -- Corn producers across the United States outdid themselves this week, propelling the amount of acres planted to 71% by Sunday, May 19. Last week only 28% of the nation's crop was in the ground. This pace is reportedly a record-setter.

Thanks to last week's sprint, planting progress is now only 8 percentage points behind the five-year average, an average that includes last year's blistering 95% planted rate.

"If my math is correct, and USDA is still using its 97.3 million acre corn planting projection, then over 41.8 ma were planted last week," said DTN Senior Analyst Darin Newsom.

Nineteen percent of the corn is emerged, compared to 5% last week and a 46% five-year average.

"Despite rains over the past weekend, corn planting should speed to an end, putting the attention on emergence," said Newsom. "This could remain a concern as a slower emergence pace pushes silking, doughing, and denting deeper into the heat of the summer."

The report should be viewed as bearish for corn, Newsom said.

Soybean planting progress rose to 24%, compared to 6% last week and a 42% five-year average. Three percent of the soybean crop has emerged, compared to a 14% five-year average.

The numbers should be viewed as bearish for soybeans, Newsom said.

Winter wheat headed rose to 43%, compared to 29% last week and a 62% five-year average. Winter wheat conditions worsened to 41% poor to very poor, compared to 39% last week. It's uncertain how much, if any, of this past weekend's severe weather damage is factored into these condition ratings.

"The drop in ratings led to a DTN Winter Wheat Crop Condition Index of only 32 points," Newsom said. "Last week this index came in at 39 points. Key states continue to decline with the Kansas crop showing a rating of 26 points, Oklahoma (-7) points, and Texas (-94) points.

"The percent headed as of Sunday, May 19, was reported at 43% as compared to the five-year average of 62%. Kansas was pegged at 41%, Oklahoma 79%, and Texas 70%, all well behind average."

The numbers are bullish for winter wheat, Newsom said.

Spring wheat planting increased to 67% complete, compared to 43% last week and a 76% five-year average. Twenty-two percent of the crop was emerged, compared to 10% last week and a 49% five-year average.

"Spring wheat, like corn and soybeans, saw a great deal of work done as the weather finally cleared," Newsom said. "Minnesota jumped to 71% from the previous report's 19%, while North Dakota nearly doubled its plantings to 50% completed."

Oats were 86% planted, compared to 70% last week and a 91% five-year average. Emergence was reported at 62%, compared to 47% last week and a 77% five-year average. Oat conditions, reported for the first time this year are 47% good to excellent.

Barley is 70% planted, compared to 55% last week and a 77% five-year average. Barley emergence is reported at 35%, compared to 25% last week and a 47% five-year average.

Sorghum is 35% planted, compared to 29% last week and a 42% five-year average.

Cotton is 39% planted, compared to 23% last weke and a 52% five-year average. Rice is 80% planted and 60% emerged with a condition rating of 54% good to excellent.

National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Yr
	Week	Week	Year	Avg
Corn Planted	71	28	95	79
Corn Emerged	19	5	73	46
Soybeans Planted	24	6	71	42
Soybeans Emerged	3	NA	32	14
Sorghum Planted	35	29	53	42
Rice Planted	80	69	90	84
Rice Emerged	60	49	80	67
Oats Planted	86	70	99	91
Oats Emerged	62	47	94	77
Barley Planted	70	55	97	77
Barley Emerged	35	25	76	47
Spring Wheat Planted	67	43	98	76
Spring Wheat Emerged	22	10	82	49
Winter Wheat Headed	43	29	80	62
Cotton Planted	39	23	59	52

National Crop Condition Summary
(VP=Very Poor; P=Poor; F=Fair; G=Good; E=Excellent)
	This Week						Last Week						Last Year
	VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E
W Wheat	21	20	28	27	4		20	19	29	27	5		4	10	28	45	13
Rice	1	7	38	38	16		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA		1	5	28	51	15
Oats	5	10	38	41	6		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA		2	3	21	57	17

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(AG)

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