The USDA weekly crop progress report was out after the close. Corn planting is progressing well, 6% sown compared to the 5 year avg of 5%. Some the central corn belt states are now in the field, Iowa 4% sown, Illinois 3% and Indiana 1%. Soybean sowing is picking up too, the southern states just getting going Louisiana and Arkansas leading the way, Kansas just 1% sown. Sorghum sowing in Texas has reached the half way mark, Kansas yet to strike a blow.
The US winter wheat crop conditions rating fell 1pt to 55% G/E, the Kansas crop rated at 43% G/E.
The percentage of winter wheat in head average 11% across the 18 major US winter wheat states. The Kansas crop is yet to throw a head up. US spring wheat was pegged at 7% sown, 1pt above the average for now.
So there’s no big market moving news there. A quick look at the US weather for the next 7 days probably tells us that we may see further declines in the crop ratings for Kansas going forward. Nebraska and Iowa are expected to see some good falls this week, much of Kansas and the Panhandle will again miss out. Much of the central corn belt is forecast to see 20 – 30mm over the next 7 days. Possibly slowing summer crop sowing a little, but keeping conditions moist.
The Canadian durum belt could see drier than average conditions, the bulk of the rain predicted over the next 7 days falling further north, possibly helping a little in the northern canola regions there.

US wheat futures gave back some of Fridays recovery. The weaker AUD somewhat countering the fall here. Chicago soybeans were weaker, dragging Winnipeg canola lower again. In AUD terms the nearby contract at Winnipeg slipped roughly AUD$15.22. Paris rapeseed future were more resilient, actually gaining in AUD terms nearby by about AUD$2.77/t. Outer month contracts at Paris did fall away though, the FEB25 slot slipping E5.00, likely signally some weakness here in new crop canola values today.