U.S. Winter Wheat Planting, Emergence Lagging

U.S. winter wheat planting made decent progress this past week but continues to lag last year and the five-year average. Emergence is also running behind. 

According to Monday’s USDA crop progress, 27% of the American winter wheat crop was planted as Sunday, up 10 percentage points from a week earlier. That was below both the 32% planted at the same point last year and the 2021-25 average of 34%. 

Meanwhile, winter wheat emergence also increased nationally, with 8% of the crop emerged, up from 2% the previous week. That remained below 12% last year and the five-year average of 11%. 

Kansas planting advanced to 18% from 10% the previous week, compared with 16% last year and the five-year average of 24%. Oklahoma reached 7% planted, up from 4% a week earlier, but well behind 30% last year and the 25% average.  

Michigan moved to 18% planted from 14%, ahead of 15% last year and equal to the five-year average. No planting progress was reported for Ohio as of Sunday; the state was 10% planted at the same point last year, while the five-year average is 9%. 

In Kansas, 3% of the crop had emerged as of Sunday, compared with none reported a week earlier, 4% last year and a 6% average. Michigan was also 3% emerged, with no measurable emergence reported the previous week, compared with 5% last year and a 5% average. No emergence was reported for Oklahoma or Ohio as of Sunday. Oklahoma was 16% emerged last year and averages 8%, while Ohio was 1% emerged last year and averages 1%.