The first national USDA Crop Progress report of the 2026 season shows a mixed start for U.S. agriculture. Early planting for several spring crops is close to normal, but winter wheat condition is clearly weaker than it was a year ago. That split gives farmers and markets an early look at how this season is beginning across major crop regions.
The most striking signal in the report is winter wheat. USDA says the crop was rated 35% good to excellent as of April 5, down sharply from 48% at the same time last year. At the same time, 31% of the crop was rated poor to very poor, compared with 21% a year earlier. The full official report is available here USDA Crop Progress report.
Winter wheat starts the season in weaker shape
State level ratings show how uneven the winter wheat picture is. Oklahoma had 54% of its crop rated very poor to poor, Texas was at 51%, and Colorado was at 49%. Kansas, the top winter wheat producing state, was rated 38% good to excellent, 38% fair, and 24% very poor to poor.
Not every state is struggling to the same degree. Washington posted a much stronger 86% good to excellent rating, while Idaho was at 85%. Still, the national average points to a crop that is entering spring in more fragile condition than last year. Readers can also review USDA crop reporting resources through USDA NASS.
Crop development is moving close to average
Even with weaker condition scores, development is not broadly lagging. USDA says 7% of winter wheat was headed nationwide as of April 5. That was 2 points ahead of last year and equal to the five year average, suggesting some crop progress remains close to normal despite the condition concerns.
Texas was running well ahead of the national pace, with 30% of its winter wheat headed. That was 7 points ahead of last year and 5 points above the state average. So the report shows a crop that is moving forward, but not one that is entering this stage with strong nationwide health.
Corn and other spring crops are getting started at a steady pace
USDA says corn planting reached 3% nationwide by April 5. That was 1 point ahead of last year and equal to the five year average. Texas was far ahead of the national pace at 59% planted, while Kansas was at 8% and Missouri at 7%.
Cotton planting was 5% complete nationwide, matching the five year average and running 1 point ahead of last year. Sorghum planting also reached 5%, equal to the average and ahead of last year’s 4%. Oats were 16% planted, 1 point ahead of last year and 1 point above average, while 3% of the crop had emerged.
Spring wheat planting is also close to normal
Spring wheat planting was 2% complete nationwide, 1 point behind last year but equal to the five year average. Idaho was the early leader at 18% planted, followed by Washington at 12% and Minnesota at 4%.
That does not point to a major planting delay at this stage. Instead, the early national report suggests a fairly normal start for most spring row crops, even as winter wheat remains the biggest concern in the current USDA snapshot. For related English language market and crop coverage, readers can also see Agroinformacion. The official report was published by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service in its Crop Progress release on April 6, 2026.