The condition of the US corn and soybean crops declined this past week, with the soybean rating sliding more than expected.
Tuesday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the American corn crop at 69% good to excellent as of Sunday, down 2 points on the week and in line with trade expectations. Soybeans saw a sharper fall, declining 4 points from the previous week to 65% good to excellent, versus trade expectations for a 2-point drop.
With the decline, the condition of the soybean crop drew even with a year earlier, while the corn crop was still 4 points higher.
The Illinois corn condition rating dropped 6 points from a week earlier to 55% good to excellent, while the state soybean crop lost 5 points to 53%. The Indiana corn and soybean crops were both rated 61% good to excellent, down 2 points from a week earlier. At 84% good to excellent, the condition of the Iowa corn crop was unchanged from a week earlier, but the soybean crop dipped 2 points to 79%.
The Michigan corn crop gained 2 points on the week to 56% good to excellent, with the soybean crop down 3 points to 52%. Ohio crop conditions fell sharply, with corn down 7 points to 56% and soybeans down 8 at 54%. The North Dakota corn crop was up 4 points to 65%, but the soybean crop eased a single point to 61%.
Across the country, 90% of the corn crop had reached the dough stage as of Sunday, compared to 83% a week earlier, 89% last year and 91% on average. More than half of the national corn crop had reached the dent stage (58%), up 14 points from a week earlier, on par with last year but 2 points behind average. An estimated 15% of the corn crop was mature as of Sunday, up 8 points on the week and 1 point ahead of average but lagging 18% last year.
The US soybean crop was 94% podding as of Sunday, versus 89% a week earlier, 93% last year and 94% on average. The crop was 11% dropping leaves, a 7-point increase from the previous week and 1 point ahead of average but 1 point behind a year ago.
