The U.S. corn crop is consistently declining in condition. Currently 57% of the crop has a good or excellent rating, according to the latest Crop Progress report from USDA. Last week 58% of the crop was in good or excellent condition.
This current rating ties with 2019 for the week’s worst corn condition rating since 2012.
The latest weekly decline in corn condition was led by 9% drop in South Dakota, a 7% drop in Iowa and a 5% drop in Missouri.
Meanwhile, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and North Carolina all saw a 4% or more increase in the good-to-excellent category.
As of mid-August, 94% of the corn crop is silking versus a 97% average; 62% of the corn crop is at the dough stage versus a 65% average; and 16% of the crop is dented versus a 20% average.
For soybeans, 58% of the crop is in good-to-excellent condition. That is a one percentage point decline from last week.
The states that saw the biggest weekly decline in soybean good or excellent condition include:
- Louisiana: -9%
- Nebraska: -6%
- Iowa: -8%
- Kansas: -5%
- South Dakota: -5%
Arkansas, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee and Minnesota all saw a 4% or more increase in the good-to-excellent category.
In terms of soybean growth stage, 93% blooming of soybeans are blooming, which is average; and 74% is setting pods versus a 77% average.
As of Aug. 9, 66% of the U.S. was experiencing abnormal dryness/drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Drought conditions improved across the northern and eastern Corn Belt over the past week, while they worsened in western and southern areas.
Currently, drought is prevalent in southern Iowa and much of Missouri. Much of southern Minnesota is also experiencing at least some notable degree of dryness. East of the Mississippi River, dryness and drought cover less area, but small areas of D1 can be found in northern Wisconsin, east-central Michigan, and in a swath extending from east-central Illinois into west-central Tennessee.
View from the Field
The annual Pro Farmer Crop Tour provides insights into potential corn and soybean production and gathers scout reporting from 2,000+ fields across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota.
The 2022 event will run from Aug. 22 -25. Register to attend a nightly meeting!
“Heading into this year’s Tour, we know the corn crop is behind average in maturity after planting delays in some areas,” says Brian Grete, Pro Farmer editor. “It’s debatable how much crop condition ratings equate to final yield, but this year’s crop was just a tad below average when pollination started. A key to this year’s Tour is if we find enough bushels in the good areas to offset the poorer areas.”
Read More: 2022 Crop Tour: A View From The Field
