The latest USDA crop progress report shows both corn and soybean planting progress remains ahead of last year's numbers. Almost all other reported crops are on track with or ahead of last year's numbers as well.

USDA reports 7% of corn planted as of the week ending April 19. This surpasses the 5% planted this time last year, but comes short of the five year average of 9% planted. Texas reported 64% of its corn planted, a slight increase from 63% planted the previous week. On the other hand, planting progress in Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee nearly doubled across the board. North Carolina showed the largest increase to 49% planted from 28% planted in the previous week.

This is the first week USDA has tracked soybean planting progress and results showed 2% of soybeans had been planted, up from 1% planted in the previous week. This is also above the five year average of 1% of soybeans planted. Mississippi and Louisiana led the way in planting progress, at 21% and 24% of their soybeans planted, respectively. 

Cotton planting progress rose to 11% planted, above 9% in the previous week and 8% in the same week last year. Arizona remains the state with the most cotton planted at 45% planted. Sorghum planting rose to 19%, up from 18% in the previous week and 17% this time last year. Aside from Texas with 64% of its sorghum planted, no other states reported sorghum planting in the week ended April 19 aside from Nebraska at 1% planted.

Sugarbeets jumped to 18% planted, up from 10% in the previous week and 12% this time last year, but below the five year average of 30%. Sugarbeet progress in Michigan jumped to 41% planted from 12% in the previous week. Winter wheat heading progress rose to 14%, up from 6% in the previous week and 8% this time last year. This falls below the 15% five year average.