Crop Conditions
Pro Farmer Crop Tour is hitting the fields starting Monday, with a week of roughly 100 scouts capturing more samples across 2,000 fields. The scouts will work their way toward Rochester, Minnesota by Thursday.
On August 17, Pro Farmer scouts will be walking Illinois corn and soybean fields checking crop conditions and making annual yield projections.
Drought is deepening in Nebraska, but corn and soybean crops are hanging tough so far.
From corn fields flattened to grain bins ripped to shreds, the scene was stark after the derecho ravaged the heartland on August 10, 2020. One year later, crop potential is promising, but rebuilding is still underway.
According to the weekly USDA Crop Progress report, the national corn condition ratings are still trailing last year at this time, but it was USDA’s double digit increase to Illinois ratings that sparked questions.
During August, markets watchers will debate the possibilities of national yields. USDA’s gauge of crop conditions are posted every week, Pro Farmer says the condition ratings aren’t the best indication of yield.
July proved to be a scorcher in the West, but the weather story flipped to start August, with much of the eastern half of the country enjoying cooler and dryer air during the first few days of the month.
Brad and Lisa Dircks’ farm in Lowden, Iowa was flattened by the derecho last week. This week, scouts on the Pro Farmer Crop Tour will gauge the scope of damage, wading through fields across eastern Iowa.
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.