About 4 percent of the crop is up
Corn plants are starting to emerge across U.S. fields.
About 4 percent of the 2026 corn crop is up, the USDA’s April 21 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin says.
With corn planting intentions sitting around 95.3 million acres, this means about 3.8 million acres of corn have emerged.
To put that number into context, Missouri farmers planted 3.8 million acres of corn in 2025.
Most of the emerged corn is in Texas.
About 59 percent of the state’s corn is up, the USDA’s figures say.
This progress represents about 1.5 million of the 2.6 million total corn acres Texas farmers are expected to plant this year.
Corn in four other states – Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Missouri, reported corn emergence in double digits between 11 and 27 percent, respectively.
Spring wheat is emerging too.
About 2 percent of the crop is up, the USDA’s numbers show.
With spring wheat planting expected to be around 43.8 million acres in 2026, this means farmers have planted about 876,000 acres of wheat so far.
For context, farmers in Idaho and Washington combined to plant 910,000 acres of spring wheat in 2025.
The spring wheat crop in Washington is the furthest along with 22 percent planted. Idaho and its 20 percent is the other state with double digit planting progress.
Soybean planting is also rolling along.
American farmers have planted about 12 percent of the 2026 soybean crop is in the ground.
With farmers expected to plant 84.7 million acres, this means roughly 10 million acres of soybeans have been planted.
For context, Illinois farmers planted 10.3 million acres of soybeans in 2025.
Farmers in three states have planted more than 50 percent of their intended soybean crop.
Louisiana farmers are reporting 58 percent planted, followed by Mississippi at 55 percent, and Tennessee at 50 percent.
The winter wheat crop continues to head.
About 20 percent of the crop is in this stage, the USDA says.
On a state level, California’s crop is the furthest along with 80 percent headed. The next closest state is Texas with 49 percent.
In terms of crop conditions, nationally 37 percent of the crop is rated as fair. Another 25 percent is viewed as good, and 5 percent is considered excellent.