Winter Wheat Planting, Emergence Falls Slightly Behind Average Pace

US winter wheat planting and emergence has fallen behind the average pace, with things particularly slow in Oklahoma. 

According to Monday’s USDA crop progress report, 64% of the 2025 American winter wheat crop was in the ground as of Sunday, up from 51% a week earlier but a single point behind last year and 2 points behind the average. Meanwhile, an estimated 35% of the nationwide crop had emerged as of Sunday, up 10 points on the week but 1 point behind last year and 3 points back of the average. 

Amid overly dry conditions and poor soil moisture that is holding some growers back, just 43% of the winter wheat crop was planted in Oklahoma as of Sunday, up 11 points from a week earlier but 17 points behind last year and the five-year state average. 

On the other hand, 68% of the 2025 winter wheat crop was planted in Kansas – where conditions are also unfavourably dry – up from 52% the previous week and 2 points ahead of last year and the average. 

The Oklahoma crop was just 20% emerged as of Sunday, up 6 points from a week earlier but behind 29% last year and 35% on average. The Kansas crop was 36% emerged, up 15 points on the week and 2 points behind average. 

Planting of the Soft Red Winter crop in Michigan advanced 21 points from a week earlier to reach 65% complete as of Sunday, well ahead of 39% last year and 54% on average. The Michigan crop was 31% emerged, up from 15% the previous week and ahead of 23% last year and 28% on average.  

Ohio planting gained 26 points on the week to 58% done, 12 points ahead of last year and on par with the average. The crop was 18% emerged, up 10 points from a week earlier and 8 points ahead of last year but 1 point behind average.