USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report - Corn 4% Harvested, Rated 68% Good to Excellent as of Sept. 7

OMAHA (DTN) -- Corn harvest reached 4% nationwide last week as condition ratings for both corn and soybeans fell slightly, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

Frost hit northern areas over the weekend, but warmer weather is moving in with scattered showers expected in parts of the Plains and Upper Midwest, while drought persists in the southeastern Corn Belt, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

CORN

-- Crop development: Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 95%, 1 percentage point ahead of last year's 94% and equal to the five-year average. Corn dented was estimated at 74%, 2 percentage points ahead of last year's 72% and 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 75%. Corn mature was pegged at 25%, 3 percentage points behind last year's 28% and equal to the five-year average.

-- Harvest progress: In its first corn harvest report of the season, NASS estimated that 4% of corn has been harvest nationally, slightly behind last year's 5% and 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 3%.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 68% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, down 1 point from the previous week of 69%. Nine percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week but 4 points below 12% from last year. "Iowa and Wisconsin are still highly rated at 80% and 82%, respectively," noted DTN Senior Analyst Dana Mantini.

SOYBEANS

-- Crop development: Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 97%, equal to last year and the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves were pegged at 21%, 2 points behind last year's 23% and 1 point behind of the five-year average of 22%.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 64% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 point from 65% the previous week and previous year. Ten percent of soybeans were rated very poor to poor, equal to the previous week and previous year. "Wisconsin is rated 81% good to excellent while both Iowa and Nebraska are 76% good to excellent," Mantini said.

SPRING WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: Spring wheat harvest picked up speed last week, jumping ahead 13 percentage points to reach 85% complete as of Sunday. That was 2 percentage points ahead of last year's pace of 83% and 1 percentage point ahead of the five-year average of 84%. "Key hard spring wheat producers North Dakota and Minnesota are 78% and 97% complete," Mantini said.

WINTER WHEAT

-- Planting progress: NASS reported early progress on winter wheat planting at 5% nationally, equal to last year's pace and 1 point behind the five-year average of 6%. "Washington is leading the pack at 40% done," Mantini said.

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

Cold air brought frost to northern areas over the weekend but is now giving way to warmer temperatures, with limited rain forecasted, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

"Cold air over the weekend brought some frosts to northern areas Sunday and Monday, but the cold air is moving out of the country and warmer air will replace it this week," Baranick said. "We probably won't be able to grasp the potential damage on this week's report but could find it next week.

"In the warmer air, disorganized showers are in the forecast for the Plains and Upper Midwest, but not in the southeastern Corn Belt, that has been very dry with expanding drought over the last several weeks. Some rains may get into that part of the region this weekend, but it is getting awfully late for rainfall to have much of a positive impact anymore. Farther to the west, sporadic rains may come to some mature corn and soybean fields and delay harvest. But the rain should also prime soils for winter wheat planting, that should increase this week and going forward."

National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Year
	Week	Week	Year	Avg.
Corn Dough	95	90	94	95
Corn Dented	74	58	72	75
Corn Mature	25	15	28	25
Corn Harvested	4	NA	5	3
Soybeans Setting Pods	97	94	97	97
Soybeans Dropping Leaves	21	11	23	22
Spring Wheat Harvested	85	72	83	84
Winter Wheat Planted	5	NA	5	6
Cotton Setting Bolls	97	90	98	97
Cotton Bolls Opening	40	28	44	39
Cotton Harvested	8	NA	7	6
Sorghum Headed	97	94	98	97
Sorghum Coloring	71	58	73	72
Sorghum Mature	37	28	35	33
Sorghum Harvested	20	17	21	21
Oats Harvested	94	88	93	95
Barley Harvested	87	72	87	87
Rice Harvested	45	33	52	36
Peanuts Harvested	1	NA	1	1

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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	3	6	23	49	19		3	6	22	50	19		4	8	24	48	16
Soybeans	3	7	26	50	14		3	7	25	51	14		3	7	25	52	13
Rice	-	3	23	55	19		1	3	20	59	17		1	3	16	64	16
Cotton	2	9	35	46	8		2	11	36	43	8		12	16	32	34	6
Peanuts	1	6	28	54	11		-	4	25	60	11		2	8	32	51	7
Sorghum	3	7	25	47	18		3	8	25	48	16		7	13	32	40	8