The USDA Crop Progress report shows that winter wheat condition is staying the same, but there are some signs of small improvement. About 30 percent of the crop is still rated poor to very poor as it was last week, but 31 percent is now rated “good” versus 29 percent the week before.

Projections indicate that the winter wheat crop will still have a long way to go to get even close to where it was this time last year. Additional snow and rainstorms in Kansas could help in some areas. Meanwhile, farmers are playing a waiting game to see the outcome of their crop.

Sorghum planting has begun in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, but is running behind the five-year average this year as well. About 16 percent of the crop is in the ground versus 19 percent normally. Rice planting is behind average too with 17 percent of the crop in the ground when 20 percent is usually planted. However, rice emergence is running ahead of average. Warmer weather in Texas and Louisiana have made a difference there.

Crop futures

Winter wheat settled at the close of the day Monday at $7.45 for May delivery. Corn landed at $6.34. Soybeans settled at $13.73.