WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Planting of the 2015 U.S. hard red winter wheat crop got under way in the week ended Sept. 7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its most recent Crop Progress report.

A total of 3% of the crop was planted in the latest week compared with a 4% five-year average. Top-producing Kansas was 2% planted as of Sept. 7, unchanged from the five-year average. Other hard red winter wheat states where planting has begun included Colorado, 5% (8%), Montana, 3% (4%), Nebraska, 11% (11%), Oklahoma, 2% (2%), South Dakota, 4% (10%), and Texas, 3% (3%), the USDA said.

The spring wheat harvest in the six major states was 58% complete as of Sept. 7 compared with 78% as the five-year average. Top-producing North Dakota was 42% harvested compared with 74% as the average, the USDA said. Crop conditions in the six major states deteriorated to 60% good to excellent compared with 63% the previous week.

The USDA said 15% of the corn crop in the 18 major states was mature as of Sept. 7 compared with 26% as the average. Corn crop conditions were 74% good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week. Twelve percent of the soybean crop in the 18 major states was dropping leaves compared with 17% as the average. Seventy-two percent of the crop was rated good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week.

The rice harvest in the six major states reached 26% in the week ended Sept. 7 compared with 36% as the average. Seventy-four percent of the crop was rated excellent in the latest week, unchanged from the previous week, the USDA said.

The oats harvest in the nine major states was 86% complete compared with 97% as the average for the date, the USDA said.