Heat and dryness continues to take a toll on the nation’s corn crop. U.S. corn crop condition ratings dropped another 4 points this week, according to the latest USDA Crop Progress report, now at 68% good to excellent.
While each weekly report has showed a steady decline of 4 points across the country, a couple key corn producing states saw double-digit declines in the week ratings. Iowa and Minnesota’s corn crops are now below the national average, with Iowa’s corn crop statewide considered at 63% good to excellent, down from the 77% condition rating posted last week. Minnesota’s condition rating sits at 58% good to excellent, down 10 points from the week prior.
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says dryness is a major factor impacting corn condition ratings in some areas.
“It’s largely across the northern Corn Belt due to heat and emerging dryness. At this point, June 13th, only 68% of the corn rated good to excellent, we have seen a four point drop in that number in each of the last two weeks. In other words, two weeks ago, the corn was 76% good to excellent,” he says.
There was no deterioration on the low end of the ratings, with 5% rated very poor to poor nationwide.
