News

61% of U.S. corn, 59% of soybeans rated good to excellent

U.S. corn and soybean good to excellent ratings fell last week and development is slower than average. Crop quality and development have been hampered by a recent hot, dry pattern in much of the region and while a more mild pattern has settled in, weekend rainfall totals were below expectations in some areas and most forecasts have a return to higher, drier conditions next week.

The USDA says 61% of U.S. corn rated good to excellent, 3% lower than last week, with 62% of the crop silking, compared to the five-year average of 70%, and 13% at the dough making stage, compared to 15% on average.

59% of soybeans are called good to excellent, down 2%, with 64% of the crop blooming, compared to 69% normally in late July, and 26% at the pod setting stage, compared to 34% on average.

77% of the U.S. winter wheat crop has been harvested, compared to the five-year average of 80%.

68% of spring wheat is in good to excellent shape, a decline of 3%, with 86% of the crop headed, compared to 96% on average.

34% of cotton is reported as good to excellent, 4% below a week ago, while 80% is squaring, matching the typical rate, and 48% is setting bolls, compared to 38% on average.

75% of U.S. rice is in good to excellent condition, up 3%, with 39% headed, compared to 44% on average.

25% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are seen as good to excellent, 1% lower, with 25% rated as fair and the remaining 50% in poor to very poor shape.