U.S. farmers are wasting little time getting the 2026 crop in the ground, with corn planting already underway in nine states and running slightly ahead of the typical pace, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first Crop Progress report of the season.
As of April 5, 3 percent of the nation’s corn crop had been planted across the top 18 producing states — edging past the five-year average of 2 percent. That early momentum is being driven largely by southern states, where favorable field conditions have allowed planters to roll.
Texas is far out in front, with 59 percent of its corn crop already planted, followed by Tennessee at 18 percent. Other states reporting early activity include Missouri (8 percent), North Carolina (7 percent), Kentucky (6 percent), and Kansas (5 percent), while Midwest states like Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin are just beginning at around 1 percent.