The condition of the US winter wheat crop took an unexpected step back this past week.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report showed the national winter wheat crop at 52% good to excellent as of Sunday, down 2 points from a week earlier and first decline in the condition of the 2025 crop since a 2-point drop in the week ending April 20.
Going into the report, most traders and analysts were expecting the condition of the winter wheat crop to hold steady from the previous week.
Meanwhile, spring wheat planting continued at a brisk pace, with 82% of the American crop in the ground as of Sunday, up from 66% a week earlier and ahead of 76% last year and 65% on average. The spring wheat planting pace also topped the average pre-report trade guess of 80%.
In the largest winter wheat production state of Kansas, the condition of the crop gained a single point on the week to 49% good to excellent, while the Oklahoma crop was up 3 points to 56%. The condition of the Soft Red crop in Ohio also improved, up 1 point to 66% good to excellent. On the other hand, the Soft Red crop in Michigan slipped 2 points to 68%.
An estimated 64% of the US winter wheat crop had reached the heading stage as of Sunday, up from 53% a week earlier. That is 3 points behind last year but 6 points ahead of average. The Kansas crop was 84% headed, versus 71% on average, while the Ohio crop was at 33% headed, compared to 28% on average. No crop was reported heading in Michigan, compared to 18% last year and 1% on average.
Spring wheat planting in North Dakota gained 20 points on the week to reach 78% complete as of Sunday, 10 points ahead of last year and 27 points ahead of the state average. Minnesota planting climbed 26 points to 93% done, versus 88% last year and 64% on average. At 76% complete, planting in Montana was up 15 points on the week and 2 points ahead of average. Planting in South Dakota has basically now wrapped up.
The US spring wheat crop was 45% emerged as of Sunday, up from 27% a week earlier and 11 points ahead of average. Emergence in North Dakota was running 19 points ahead of average at 39%.
