The first condition ratings of the season for the 2026 U.S. corn and soybean crops are slightly below a year earlier.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the nationwide corn crop at 67% good to excellent as of Sunday, 2 points below a year earlier. Meanwhile, the soybean crop was rated 66% good to excellent, down a single point from last year.
Both condition ratings were near pre-report trade guesses.
In the largest production state of Iowa, the 2026 corn crop was rated at a very strong 82% good to excellent, although that was still 2 points below last year. The Iowa soybean crop, at 79% good to excellent, was also 2 points below last year’s rating.
The Illinois corn and soybean crops were rated 65% and 64% good to excellent, respectively, above 63% and 59% a year ago, while the Indiana corn crop was 9 points below last year at 61%, and the soybean crop 10 points below at 59%.
The Michigan corn crop was rated 68% good to excellent, well above 53% last year, and the state soybean crop, at 69%, was above 54% a year ago. At 46% good to excellent, the condition of the Ohio corn crop matched a year ago, with the soybean crop 4 points below a year ago at 46%.
The North Dakota corn and soybean crops were rated 62% and 65% good to excellent, above 51% and 58% the previous year.
Across the country, 76% of the corn crop was emerged as of Sunday, up 16 points on the week and compared to 76% last year and 74% on average. The U.S. corn crop was 93% planted as of Sunday, up from 86% the previous week and near 92% for both last year and the average.
The national soybean crop was 65% emerged as of Sunday, up from 49% a week earlier and ahead of 61% last year and 57% on average. Soybean planting was 87% complete, versus 79% a week earlier, 83% last year and 80% on average.
