Today, USDA released its weekly crop progress report. Planting of the 2011 corn crop, at 9%, continues at a slow pace due to cold, wet weather. Of the 18 states that planted 92% of last year’s corn acreage in the U.S., only about 9% of the crop is planted. The current crop progress is behind the 46% planted at this time last year. It’s also behind the 5-year average of the 2006- 2010 period of 23% planted at this time of the year.

For the 18 states that planted 91% of last year’s winter wheat acreage, roughly 23% of the crop is headed. The current crop progress is ahead of the 14% headed at this time last year, as well as the average of the 2006-2010 period of 19% at this time of the year.

USDA also reported that 35% of the winter wheat crop is in "good" or "excellent" condition vs. 69% at the same time last year.

For the 6 states that planted 99% of last year’s spring wheat acreage, only 6% of the crop is planted. The current crop progress is behind the 39% planted at this time last year, as well as the average of the 2006-2010 period of 25% planted at this time of the year.