USDA Crop Progress Report - Corn Good-to-Excellent Rating Falls 3 Percentage Points Week Ended Aug. 7

OMAHA (DTN) -- Hot, dry conditions in parts of the country eroded the national corn and soybean condition ratings last week, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress on Monday.

CORN

-- Crop development: 90% of corn was silking as of Sunday, Aug. 7, according to NASS, 3 percentage points behind the five-year average of 93%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 45%, 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 49%. Corn dented was estimated at 6 percent, 3 percentage points behind the average of 9%.

-- Crop condition: 58% of corn was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 3 percentage points from 61% the previous week and 6 percentage points below last year's rating of 64%. "The current good-to-excellent rating is the seventh-lowest rating since 2000," said DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman. "This week's lower ratings were largely from Kansas to the Dakotas, where temperatures have been hotter."

SOYBEANS

-- Crop development: 89% of soybeans were blooming, near the five-year average of 88%. Sixty-one percent of soybeans were setting pods, 5 percentage points behind the five-year average of 66%.

-- Crop condition: 59% of soybeans were rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 60% the previous week and 1 percentage point below last year's rating of 60%. "The current rating is the eighth-lowest rating since 2000," Hultman said. "Michigan showed the largest drop in this week's ratings, followed by Kansas and South Dakota."

WINTER WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: 86% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 5 percentage points behind the five-year average of 91%. "Northwestern states are lagging, with Idaho at 20% done, Washington at 27%, and Montana at 51%, and all behind the five-year average," noted DTN Senior Analyst Dana Mantini.

SPRING WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: 9% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, well behind 35% last year and 10 percentage points behind the five-year average of 19%.

-- Crop condition: 64% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 6 percentage points from 70% the previous week but far above last year's rating of 11%. "Minnesota posted an 8-percentage-point loss to 74% good to excellent, and North Dakota is also rated at 74% good to excellent," Mantini said. "Montana continues to be poorly rated, at just 37% good to excellent."

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

"A cold front is pressing southeast through the country this week," said DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick. "It is bringing some scattered showers but a break in the heat that has been plaguing southern areas of the country all summer long. The break in the heat won't last long, as a ridge of high pressure in the West leaks higher temperatures into the Plains throughout the week.

"However, another cold front will reinforce cooler temperatures east of the Mississippi River later this week. It won't have many showers but will keep temperatures cooler going into the weekend.

"Where the two meet in the Northern Plains, we should see some additional showers from the Dakotas into Minnesota Thursday and Friday and could be heavy if multiple rounds pass over the same areas. There is potential for more showers this weekend in the Plains, but confidence is not high on coverage or amounts.

"Outside of this possibility, though, there is a stark contrast from west to east this week. The Plains will be rather hot and dry, while the east will be relative mild or cool with better rainfall."