U.S. Spring Wheat Crop Conditions Rated the Worst Since 1988

The talk of possible rain relief comes as drought continues to impact crops, with spring wheat conditions hitting the lowest rating since 1988. 

USDA's latest Crop Progress Report shows only 9% of the spring wheat crop across the country is rated good to excellent. 66% is rated poor to very poor. With conditions continuing to deteriorate, USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says you have to go back to 1988 to find a spring wheat crop rated this poor. 

Meanwhile, the corn crop dropped 1 point in a week, now at 64% good to excellent nationally, and soybeans slipped 2 points, falling to 58% good to excellent across the country. 

"With the dry weather in the Midwest, and disappearing moisture supplies in the Upper Midwest, we saw a two point decline in the good to excellent ratings, down to 58%," says Rippey. "That's of course below last week's 60%, and now 12% is very poor to poor. That's up a point from last week."

Taking a closer look at soybeans, USDA shows Minnesota farmers are seeing their worst conditions in 18 years. That state's crop condition ratings dropped 7 points in just one week, now 36% of the crop is rated good to excellent.

Iowa's soybean rating slipping 4 percentage points to 61% good to excellent.