Crop Watch 2025: Corn Yield Threats
Several threats are impacting corn yields this season, including overly tight tassel wrap, Southern Rust and tar spot.
Unscripted: ‘Overly Tight Tassel Wrap’ Affecting Pollination?
Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, joins Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths to shed light on crop conditions, particularly pollination issues.
Crop Condition News
USDA shows only 9% of the spring wheat crop is rated good to excellent. 66% is rated poor to very poor. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says you have to go back to 1988 to find a spring wheat crop rated this poor.
July rains calmed some concern about the corn crop this year, but between crop conditions, weather issues and other factors stirring in the markets, analysts say soybeans may still have a bullish story this summer.
As smoke covers much of the Midwest, it’s providing a layer of protection from high heat in areas like eastern North Dakota. One agronomist says some of the crops in the central and western parts are already fried.
In soybeans, look for white mold issues this week. Initial symptoms generally develop in the R3 to R6 production stages.
Farmers across South Dakota and eastern Iowa are breathing a sigh of relief into the weekend. That’s after rains hit parched crops, relieving some major crop stress for now.
Bean planting populations of 190,000 to 220,000 in washed out areas can help keep weeds from taking over.
As record heat continues to blast the West, the Northwest Cherry Growers said the heat will force some growers to abandon a portion of their crop due to the damage. It’s also forcing farm workers to harvest at night.
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says unfavorable weather means everything from barley to spring and durum wheat are getting scorched this year. Crop condition ratings continue to tumble as dryness and heat persist.
Corn harvesting in Argentina advanced by 3.4 points to reach 56% of planted area, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said in a report on Thursday, keeping its crop estimate unchanged at 48 million tonnes for 2020/2021.
As June closed on a wetter note for portions of the Midwest, three agricultural meteorologists forecast July, indicating continued rains for the corn crop in some areas, but drastic drought areas growing even drier.