USDA Crop Progress Report - Corn, Soybean Conditions Down Again

OMAHA (DTN) -- Corn and soybean good-to-excellent condition ratings both fell slightly again last week, USDA reported in its weekly Crop Progress report released Monday, Aug. 22.

Corn was rated 55% in good-to-excellent condition, down 2 percentage points from 57% the previous week. Soybeans were rated 57% in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 58% the previous week.

CORN

-- Crop development: 97% of corn was silking as of Sunday, Aug. 21, according to NASS, 2 percentage points behind the five-year average of 99%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 75%, 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 79%. Corn dented was estimated at 31%, 4 percentage points behind the average of 35%. Corn mature was estimated at 4%, even with the five-year average.

-- Crop condition: 55% of corn was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 2 percentage points from 57% the previous week and 3 percentage points below last year's rating of 60%. "That's the fourth lowest rating going back to 2000," DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman said.

SOYBEANS

-- Crop development: 97% of soybeans were blooming, even with the five-year average; 84% of soybeans were setting pods, 2 percentage points behind the five-year average of 86%.

-- Crop condition: 57% of soybeans were rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 58% the previous week but 1 percentage point above last year's rating of 56%. "That's tied for the seventh lowest rating since 2000," Hultman added.

WINTER WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: 95% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 2 percentage points behind the five-year average of 97%. "Northwestern states are lagging, with Idaho 40 points behind the five-year average, at just 45% completed, and Washington lagging its average by 13 points with 73% harvested," DTN Senior Analyst Dana Mantini said.

SPRING WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: 33% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 21 percentage points behind 41% last year and 21 percentage points behind the five-year average of 54%.

-- Crop condition: 64% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, even with previous week but far above last year's rating of 36%. " Minnesota posted an 8-percentage-point gain to 88% good to excellent, and North Dakota rose 2 points to 74% good to excellent. Montana continues to be poorly rated, at just 31% good to excellent, and was down 7 points on the week." Mantini said.