USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report - Corn Rated 71% Good to Excellent, Soybeans 69% Good to Excellent as of Aug. 24

OMAHA (DTN) -- The condition of the nation's corn crop remained unchanged, while soybean conditions increased slightly, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

Both crops also appear to be reaching maturity consistent with their five-year averages, NASS reported.

CORN

-- Crop development: Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 83%, equal to last year but 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 84%. Corn dented was estimated at 44%, equal to both last year and the five-year average. Corn mature was pegged at 7%, 3 points behind last year's 10% but equal to the five-year average.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 71% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, unchanged from the previous week. Eight percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week and below 13% from last year. Iowa corn is rated 84% good to excellent, Nebraska is at 78% and Indiana is at 63%.

SOYBEANS

-- Crop development: Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 89%, 1 point ahead of last year's 88% and equal to the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves were pegged at 4%, 2 points behind last year's 6% and equal to the five-year average.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 69% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, up 1 point from 68% the previous week and up 2 points from 67% the previous year. Eight percent of soybeans were rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week and 1 percentage point below the previous year's 9%. Seventy-nine percent of soybeans in Iowa were rated good to excellent, while Indiana was at 63% and Illinois at 58%.

WINTER WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: Harvest inched ahead 4 percentage points last week to reach 98% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 1 point behind last year's 99% and consistent with the five-year average. Harvest in Montana reached 82% complete, jumping 17 percentage points from 65% the previous week. Idaho and Washington are 92% and 96% complete.

SPRING WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: Spring wheat harvest picked up speed last week, jumping ahead 17 percentage points to reach 53% complete as of Sunday. That was 5 percentage points ahead of last year's pace of 48% and 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 54%.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 49% of the crop remaining in fields was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, down 1 percentage point from 50% the previous week and 20 points below last year's 69% good-to-excellent rating. Minnesota has the highest good-to-excellent spring wheat rating at 80%, with North Dakota at 68%. Montana only has a 1% good-to-excellent rating, with 49% rated very poor to poor.

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

A cold front brought cooler temperatures and will bring scattered rainfall across most of the country this week, though dry conditions remain a concern for crops in some areas, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

"A big fall cold front swept through most of the country over the weekend and will bring on an extended period of cool temperatures for most areas east of the Rockies this week," Baranick said. "That front got hung up in the Central and Southern Plains though, and will be a productive area of rainfall through Thursday before that shifts to the Delta and Southeast for Thursday and Friday.

"A reinforcing shot of cooler air will move through later this week and showers will develop around the Midwest on Thursday as it swings through. But those showers should be spotty and not overly helpful for too many areas.

"Overall dryness in the southern and eastern Corn Belt continue to be an issue for filling corn and soybeans, though the cooler temperatures will help to reduce the overall stress."

National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Year
	Week	Week	Year	Avg.
Corn Dough	83	72	83	84
Corn Dented	44	27	44	44
Corn Mature	7	3	10	7
Soybeans Setting Pods	89	82	88	89
Soybeans Dropping Leaves	4	-	6	4
Winter Wheat Harvested	98	94	99	98
Spring Wheat Harvested	53	36	48	54
Cotton Setting Bolls	81	73	88	87
Cotton Bolls Opening	20	13	24	22
Sorghum Headed	88	78	89	88
Sorghum Coloring	44	34	47	46
Sorghum Mature	23	18	22	21
Sorghum Harvested	16	-	18	17
Oats Harvested	80	69	76	80
Barley Harvested	56	37	45	57
Rice Headed	96	92	97	95
Rice Harvested	25	17	31	20

**

National Crop Condition Summary
(VP=Very Poor; P=Poor; F=Fair; G=Good; E=Excellent)
	This Week						Last Week						Last Year
	VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E
Corn	2	6	21	51	20		2	6	21	50	21		5	8	22	49	16
Soybeans	2	6	23	54	15		2	6	24	53	15		2	7	24	54	13
Spring Wheat	4	14	33	43	6		4	14	32	45	5		3	7	21	56	13
Rice	1	3	22	55	19		-	3	22	55	20		-	4	17	64	15
Barley	5	18	35	40	2		3	14	39	42	2		3	11	21	60	5
Cotton	3	10	33	43	11		4	10	31	43	12		12	16	32	34	6
Peanuts	-	3	23	62	12		-	3	25	60	12		1	5	30	58	6
Sorghum	3	8	26	47	16		3	7	27	46	17		7	13	32	40	8