Special Report

U.S. crop condition ratings improve

USDA reports the national condition ratings for corn, soybeans, and wheat all improved last week.

As of Sunday, 65% of U.S. corn is in good to excellent condition, up 1% on the week and 9% more than this time last year. 96% of the crop has emerged, compared to 100% a year ago and the five year average of 99%.

92% of soybeans are planted, compared to 99% last year and 95% on average, with 81% emerged, compared to 98% a year ago and 89% on average. 65% of the crop is in good to excellent shape, an increase of 1% on the week and up 12% on the year.

95% of winter wheat has emerged, compared to 97% a year ago and 95% on average, with 20% harvested, compared to 63% last year and 37% on average. 32% of winter wheat is called good to excellent, 1% more than a week ago, but the poor to very poor category was unchanged at 43%.

96% of spring wheat is planted, compared to 100% last year and 99% on average, and 90% has emerged, compared to 100% a year ago and 97% on average. 70% of spring wheat is in good to excellent condition, 2% more than last week but 7% less than this time last year.

53% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are rated good to excellent, up 1% from a week ago and 19% above a year ago.