U.S. corn and soybean crop conditions slipped slightly this past week, with notable declines in Indiana as heavy rain and flooding continued to affect parts of the Midwest.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report showed 60% of the U.S. corn crop rated good to excellent as of Sunday, down one point from a week earlier and below 71% last year. Soybean conditions also fell one point, to 61% good to excellent, and down from 68% a year ago.
Among the major Corn Belt states, Iowa’s corn rating held steady at 78% good to excellent, while Illinois slipped two points to 59%. Indiana posted the largest decline of the three 'I' states, falling five points to 61% good to excellent.
Soybeans were more mixed. Iowa improved six points to 78% good to excellent, while Illinois remained unchanged at 59%. Indiana soybean conditions dropped four points to 61%.
The deterioration in Indiana followed another round of severe weather across the Midwest. Indiana has been particularly hard hit by storms and historic flooding since Aug. 11, with more than 11 inches of rain reported in some locations and widespread flooding across central portions of the state.
The latest flooding follows repeated bouts of excessive moisture earlier in the growing season.
Farther east and north, corn conditions improved. Michigan edged one point higher to 58% good to excellent, Ohio climbed four points to 66%, and North Dakota increased six points to 33%.
State-by-state soybean conditions were mixed. Michigan dropped five points to 49% good to excellent, while Ohio gained two points to 61% and North Dakota improved three points to 34%.
Corn development remained ahead of normal nationally. Corn reaching the dough stage jumped to 76%, up from 61% a week earlier and above the five-year average of 70%, while 29% was dented compared with the 24% average. An estimated 4% of the U.S. corn crop was mature as of Sunday, up from 3% a year earlier and above the five-year average of 3%. Soybeans setting pods advanced to 85%, five points ahead of the normal pace.
