With corn planting in the home stretch, at 95% of completion, USDA late Monday released the first condition rating for this year's crop. It's not looking quite as good as last year's crop did at this point in the growing season.

USDA rated 9% of the corn crop excellent, 54% good, 30% fair, 5% poor and 2% very poor. Last year at this date USDA rated 15% excellent, 56% good, 24% fair, 4% poor and 1% very poor.

Corn planting progress is dead even with last year's progress at this date and up from a five-year average of 88%. Two-thirds of the corn crop has emerged nationally, that is on par with the five-year average pace of development, but down from 79% at this time last year. Growers in Illinois have 99% of corn acres planted, Indiana 95% and Iowa 98%.

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Soybean planting was 65% complete nationally as of Sunday. That is even with last year's progress at this date and nine points ahead of the five-year average pace. Development is about on pace with the season-average, with 27% emerged compared with 28% for the five-year average. Last year at this date 38% of the crop was emerged.

Illinois growers have 89% of their soybean acres planted, up from 70% last year and 59% for the five-year average. Ohio growers are 76% done planting beans, up from 57% for the five-year average and last year's progress at this date. In Indiana, 73% of acres are planted, up from 58% for the five-year average pace but down three points from last year. In Nebraska, 71% of acres are planted, up from 67% last year and a five-year average of 60%. Iowa growers have 70% of the crop planted, up a point from the five-year averag but 15 points behind last year at this date. Missouri growers have 65% of their soybeans planted and Minnesota is at 37% of completion.

Winter wheat condition ratings down again, but spring wheat looking good

Winter wheat is heading on 71% of acres nationally, that is two points behind the five-year average and seven points behind last year's developmental progress at this date. Crop condition ratings this week put 52% in the good to excellent category. That compares with 55% last week and 44% last year at this date.

Spring wheat planting is 94% complete, one point ahead of last year's progress for this date, and seven points ahead of the five-year average for planting progress. Planting is complete in South Dakota and Washington and within five points of completion in Minnesota and Montana. Nationally, emergence of the crop is at 75% of acres. That is one point behind last year's crop development at this date, and 12 points ahead of the five-year average.

In the first condition rating for the spring wheat crop this year, USDA rated 13% excellent, 61% good, 24% fair, 2% poor and 0% very poor. Last year at this time 7% rated excellent, 52% rated good, 34% rated fair, 5% rated poor and 2% very poor.

Additional report highlights:

Cotton planting is 68% complete, two points behind the season-average pace and four points behind last year at this date. In the first condition ratings for this year's crop, USDA pegged 6% as excellent, 58% good, 29% fair, 6% poor and 1% very poor.

Rice planting is 94% complete, up from 92% for the five-year average and 93% for last year at this date. Rice has emerged on 78% of acres nationally, that is one point behind the season-average pace and five points behind last year's progress at this date. Condition ratings for the crop put 9% in the excellent category and 49% in the good. Last week 7% rated excellent and 51% rated good.

Sorghum planting is 37% complete nationally. That is down from 41% for the five-year average and 42% for last year at this date.

Peanut planting is 62% complete. That is down from 70% for the five-year average and 68% for last year's progress at this date.

Planting is complete on 18% of acres intended for sunflowers this year. That is even with last year's progress for this date and one point ahead of the five-year average.