USDA Crop Progress Report: Farmers Catching Up.

Apr 24, 2017

USDA News

The USDA released the weekly Crop Progress Report.

Improved weather and soil conditions for U.S. corn planting allowed farmers to make up a lot of ground over the past week.

The USDA says there were limited planting opportunities in parts of the Midwest, but when producers were able to get in the fields, they apparently made it count.

As of Sunday, 17% of U.S. corn is planted, compared to 6% a week ago and the five year average of 18%. 4% of corn has emerged, matching the usual pace.

Soybean planting is 6% complete, compared to 3% both a year ago and normally this time of year.

54% of U.S. winter wheat is rated good to excellent, unchanged on the week, and 32% has headed, compared to 23% on average. 22% of spring wheat is planted, compared to 34% typically, and 5% has emerged.

70% of the U.S. has adequate soil moisture levels.

For the full report and state by state information visit the following link.

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProg/CropProg-04-24-2017.pdf

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.