USDA Crop Progress Report - Corn, Soybean Conditions Fall Week Ended July 24

OMAHA (DTN) -- Heat and a lack of moisture in much of the country took a toll on U.S. crop conditions last week, with good-to-excellent condition ratings for corn, soybeans and spring wheat falling, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress on Monday.

However, some relief is likely on the way for much of the country this week -- at least temporarily -- according to DTN meteorologists.

CORN

-- Crop development: 62% of corn was silking as of Sunday, July 24, according to NASS. That is 8 percentage points behind the five-year average of 70%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 13%, 2 percentage points behind the five-year average of 15%.

-- Crop condition: 61% of corn was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 3 percentage points from 64% previous week and 3 percentage points below last year's rating at this time. "The current good-to-excellent rating is the third-lowest rating for corn since 2010," said DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman. "Last week's largest rating drops were in Tennessee, Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska -- all areas that have been short on moisture."

SOYBEANS

-- Crop development: 64% of soybeans were blooming, 5 percentage points behind the five-year average of 69%. Twenty-six percent of soybeans were setting pods, 8 percentage points behind the five-year average of 34%.

-- Crop condition: 59% of soybeans were rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 2 percentage points from 61% the previous week but up slightly from 58% a year ago at this time. "The largest declines in last week's soybean ratings were reported in Arkansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, Missouri and two Southern states," Hultman said.

WINTER WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: 77% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 3 percentage points behind the five-year average of 80%. "Nebraska's winter wheat harvest is 84% finished, and South Dakota is 64% done," Hultman said. "Montana and states in the Northwestern U.S. are still in the early stages of harvest."

SPRING WHEAT

-- Crop development: 86% of the crop was headed, 10 percentage points behind the five-year average of 96%.

-- Crop condition: 68% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 3 percentage points from 71% the previous week but far above last year's rating of 9%. "Most states showed small changes in spring wheat conditions, except for a 7-percentage-point drop in Montana," Hultman noted.

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

"This week, the majority of the primary growing regions of the country are seeing a massive break in the heat and humidity that have been causing declines in crop ratings in recent weeks," said DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick. "That started over the weekend when a cold front pressed through most of the Corn Belt, bringing scattered showers that were more widespread around the Great Lakes. That front continues to produce scattered showers across the southern Corn Belt from Kansas and Nebraska through the Ohio Valley early this week.

"That front will be followed by a second cold front coming through the Northern Plains on Monday and Tuesday that will push the first front even farther south for the end of the week. Showers will get as far south as the Red River Valley between Oklahoma and Texas through the central Delta and Tennessee Valley with showers through the weekend. Drought areas will see moderate to heavy rainfall, and some areas are at risk for flooding.

"North of the front, temperatures have already fallen near to below normal. The second cold front will reinforce the colder temperatures and press farther south, easing the heat that has been gripping the Southern Plains and Delta. However, the cold front will not make it far enough south into Texas to either ease temperatures or bring significant showers while heat continues.

"One area that is seeing worse conditions this week is out in the Pacific Northwest where heat and dryness will sap soil moisture and likely cause spring wheat conditions to decline on next week's report. Conditions are better for dry-down and harvest of winter wheat, however.

"The break in the conditions is favorable for most areas this week, but it will not last long. This weekend, high temperatures that are parked out in the West will spread into the Plains and then will spread through the country next week while showers dry up. The return to the regular summer pattern starts back up next week."