(NDAgConnection.com) – The season’s first USDA Crop Progress Report this week notes that the condition of the new winter wheat crop is considerably worse than that of the crop from 2021. Just 31% of the crop in 18 selected states was rated good/excellent for the week ending April 3 compared to 53% good/excellent one year ago.

The report also said 4% of the crop is headed, which is in line with last year and slightly above the five-year average for this point in the season.

Spring wheat planting, meanwhile, had gotten underway in Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, and Montana, but not in Minnesota or North Dakota.

About 3% of spring wheat had been planted in these six states.

As for corn, planting had begun in Texas, North Carolina, Kansas, and Kentucky but had not yet started in Tennessee or Missouri.

About 2% of the crop had been planted in 18 selected states.