(Omaha) U.S. corn crop conditions held steady last week, while soybean ratings declined slightly, according to the latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Crop Progress report released Monday.
The report follows a week marked by extreme heat across much of the Corn Belt before widespread rain and thunderstorms brought relief. According to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick, the weather pattern is now shifting toward cooler temperatures with continued chances for precipitation across much of the region.
Corn development continued at a pace near historical averages. USDA reported that 16% of the crop had reached the silking stage, one percentage point behind last year but two points ahead of the five-year average. An estimated 3% of the crop had reached the dough stage, matching last year’s pace and slightly ahead of the five-year average.
Nationally, 67% of the corn crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week. That remains seven percentage points below last year’s 74%. Meanwhile, 8% of the crop was rated very poor to poor, also unchanged from the prior week but three points higher than a year ago.
Among major producing states, Iowa continued to lead with 78% of its corn crop rated good to excellent. Illinois, the nation’s second-largest corn producer, saw its rating decline again, falling to 58%, according to DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery.
Soybean development remained ahead of both last year and the five-year average. USDA estimated that 34% of the crop was blooming, four percentage points ahead of last year and six points ahead of the five-year average. Pod setting reached 9%, two points ahead of last year and three points above the five-year average.
Soybean condition ratings, however, slipped slightly during the week. USDA reported that 64% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, down one percentage point from the previous week and two points below the same time last year.
North Dakota and Michigan experienced the largest weekly declines, with each state’s good-to-excellent rating dropping 10 percentage points. In contrast, Illinois posted improved soybean condition ratings during the week, Montgomery noted.
