Corn planting is nearly complete and the 84% that has emerged is off to a healthy start with the condition unchanged at 74% good to excellent, USDA's latest weekly crop progress report showed.

Soybean planting advanced to 71%, compared with 75% a year ago and the 70% average. The season's first soybean condition ratings will be released next week.

Corn's 84% emergence compares with 77% last year and the 79% average. Soybeans at 49% emerged compared with 46% a year ago and the 45% average.

In top corn producer Iowa, 90% was emerged and was rated 80% good to excellent. Illinois corn was 79% good/excellent and Indiana's was 79%.

In Iowa, Illinois and Indiana soybean planting was 78%, 82%, and 80% respectively. Illinois and Indiana are ahead of the averages, while Iowa trailed.

The nation's winter wheat rating slipped slightly to 44% good/excellent from 45%. Harvesting percentages will be released next week. The Kansas rating was unchanged at 30%.

The Kansas report said the state had another week of widespread rainfall that may cause some corn to be replanted. Concerns continued about disease in wheat because of the wet conditions. Corn there was rated 50% good to excellent, 38% fair, 10% poor and 2% very poor.

Texas received widespread rainfall, with up to 10 inches in parts of the eastern third of the state. Wet conditions delayed harvesting of wheat and oats, plus wind and flooding caused lodging in many fields in that region.

Spring wheat emergence was 91% from 64% a year ago and the 69% average. Top producer North Dakota was 83% emerged, well ahead of the 47% a year ago and 58% five-year averages.

Spring wheat was rated 71% good to excellent, up from 69% a week earlier.

Sorghum was 43% planted, compared with 55% a year ago and the 55% average.

Cotton was 61% planted, behind last year's 72% and the 78% average. Also 3% was squaring, versus 5% a year ago the 6% average.

Topsoil moisture was plentiful in the Midwest and the Plains. Iowa was 98% adequate to surplus, Illinois 98%, Kansas 91%, Nebraska 87%, Oklahoma 85% and Texas 96%. North Dakota registered 95%.

Source - http://farmfutures.com/