With the 2025 planting season underway, the first USDA planting progress report of the season shows the numbers closely mirror farmers’ 2024 planting starts, according to the report issued today at 4 p.m. Eastern
Of the 18 states that plant 92% of the corn acres, five report single-digit progress, while Texas growers have 59% of their corn crop in the ground now – identical to last year’s first report of the season there.
Two other states – Kansas and Missouri – also have starts identical to the first report of 2024.
In total, USDA says 2% of the U.S. corn crop is planted.
Here’s a summary of progress to date with corn:
- 59% of Texas’ corn is in the ground, identical to the 2024 report.
- 3% of the corn crop in Tennessee is planted but is three points behind last year.
- 6% of Missouri’s corn is planted, identical to last year’s start.
- 6% of North Carolina’s corn crop is planted, one point behind last year.
- 4% of the corn in Kansas is planted, identical to last year’s start.
- 1% is planted in Kentucky, four percentage points behind last year.
Looking at other crops, cotton planting is running slightly behind, with 4% of the crop now planted. The average is 6% right now.
Five percent of the wheat crop is headed, matching the five-year average, with 48% of that crop now rated good to excellent. That’s 8% behind last year. Meanwhile, 3% of the spring wheat crop has been planted.
Your next read: Cotton Farmers Describe Somber Situation: ‘We’ve Gone Beyond Losing Money to Now Losing the Farm’


