The USDA’s weekly crop report released this afternoon contained small increases in nationwide corn and soybean crop ratings, following better rains in most states last week. The winter wheat harvest continues to be hampered by rain.
The USDA pegged the nationwide corn crop at 57% good to excellent as of Sunday, up 2 points on the week although still well below the previous year’s 64% good to excellent rating. For corn, it marked only the third week-over-week improvement in the crop this growing season after the initial rating in early May of 69% good to excellent.
The soybean crop came in at 55% good to excellent as of Sunday, up 4 points from the previous week. Last year at this time, the US soybean crop was rated 61% good to excellent. Since the first condition rating in early June, the condition of the soybean crop has still lost 9 points.
In Illinois, the condition of the corn crop improved 2 points on the week to 41% good to excellent as of Sunday following recent rainfall. What’s more, the soybean crop in the state jumped 4 points from a week earlier to 40% good to excellent.
In Iowa, at 64% and 58% good to excellent, the condition of the Iowa corn and soybean crops was up 3 and up 6 points on the week, respectively.
The North Dakota corn and soybean crops saw a dip compared to last week, with corn down 1 point at 66%, and soybeans down 1 at 53%.
Closer to the Great Lakes, the corn crop is looking better. The Michigan corn crop was pegged at 40% good to excellent as of Sunday, up 4 points from a week earlier. Ohio corn jumped 5 points on the week to 72% good to excellent.
Across the country, 47% of the corn crop was reported silking as of Sunday, up 25 points on the week and now 4 points ahead of normal. 7% of corn had reached the dough stage of development.
56% of the soybean crop had reached the blooming stage, versus 39% a week earlier and 51% on average. An estimated 20% of the soy crop was setting pods, ahead of 13% last year and 17% on average.
Winter wheat harvest pushes past half done.
For wheat, the winter wheat harvest moved to 56% complete from 46% a week ago. Harvest has been negatively impacted by excessive rains. This also poses a potential risk for quality.
There was some excellent progress in the Great Lakes states that produce Soft Red and compete with Ontario. The Michigan harvest came in at 31% complete, slightly ahead of the five-year average (30%). Ohio was 85% done, compared to 84% normally.
Spring wheat needs rain, conditions down again.
The condition of the US spring wheat crop continued to decline due to a lack of rain, coming in at just 47% good/excellent from 48% last week and now far below 71% a year earlier.
