USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Monday's Numbers Bearish for Corn, Soybeans

(DTN photo illustration by Nick Scalise)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Corn and soybean condition ratings held steady at 76% and 71% good to excellent, respectively, in the week ended July 24, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released Monday

Corn condition was unchanged from a week ago and 6 percentage points higher than a year ago ratings. "USDA said 76% of the corn crop was rated good to excellent, the same as a week ago and keeping DTN's Corn Condition Index at 184," said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman. "DTN's index was up from 167 a year ago and is well above the five-year average of 134. Monday's report is bearish for corn."

The nation's corn crop is 79% silked, compared to 56% last week, 71% last year and a 70% 5-year average. Corn in the dogh stage was reported for the first time this growing season at 13%. That compares to 12% last year and a 13% average.

Soybean condition ratings were steady with a week ago and 9 percentage points ahead of last year's ratings. "USDA said 71% of soybeans were rated good-to-excellent, resulting in a 1-point increase in the DTN Soybean Condition Index to 170," Hultman said. "DTN's index is up from 150 a year ago and is well above the five-year average of 137. Monday's report is bearish for soybeans."

Seventy-six percent of the nation's soybeans are blooming and 35% are setting pods, compared to 59% and 18% last week, 67% and 29% last year and 66% and 26% on average.

Winter wheat was 83% harvested as of Sunday, compared to 76% last week, 82% last year and a 79% average. "Monday's report is neutral for winter wheat," Hultman said.

Spring wheat condition was rated as 68% good to excellent, slightly lower than last week. "This resulted in a 4-point drop in the DTN Spring Wheat Condition Index to 160," Hultman said. "DTN's index is down from 171 a year ago and is below the five-year average of 167. Monday's report is slightly bullish for spring wheat."

Cotton squaring was at 85%, compared to 77% last week, 82% last year and an 84% average. Setting bolls was reported at 46%, compared to 28% last week, 41% last year and a 43% average. Cotton condition worsened to 13% poor to very poor, compared to 10% last week.

Rice was 57% headed, compared to 41% last week, 48% last year and a 41% average. Rice condition worsened slightly to 67% good to excellent, compared to 68% last week.

Sorghum was 49% headed, compared to 39% last week, 42% last year and 41% on average. Coloring was reported at 23%, compared to 19% last week, 22% last year and a 26% average. Sorghum condition worsened to 65% good to excellent compared to 68% last week.

Oats were 37% harvested, compared to 22% last week, 24% last year and 30% average. Oats condition worsened to 64% good to excellent, compared to 66% last week. Barley was condition held steady at 73% good to excellent.

STATE BY STATE

The following are highlights from weekly crop progress reports issued by National Ag Statistics Service offices in individual states. To view the full reports from each state, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov

Colorado

Hot and dry conditions last week continued to advance small grains maturity and winter wheat harvest. There were several isolated severe weather events across the state.

There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork, down just slightly from the previous week's 6.4 days. Topsoil moisture is 3% very short, 21% short, 68% adequate and 8% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 3% very short, 18% short, 75% adequate and 4% surplus.

Barley is 57% turning color, with 47% being the five year average. Barley harvested is 1%, with the five year average of 7%. Barley crop condition is 13% fair, 51% good and 36% excellent.

Corn silked is 28% with 38% being the five year average. Corn crop condition is 3% very poor to poor, 18% fair and 79% good to excellent.

Sorghum headed was 24% with 16% being the five year average. Sorghum crop condition is 1% poor, 35% fair and 64% good to excellent.

Spring wheat is 98% headed which is also the five year average. Spring wheat turning color is 45% with the five year average of 46%. Spring wheat crop condition is 8% fair, 92% good to excellent.

Winter wheat is 90% harvested with 85% being the five year average.

Illinois

Although temperatures were above average, rain kept most crops in good condition. Statewide, the average temperature was 80.1 degrees, 3.6 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 2.06 inches, 1.02 inches above normal.

There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 27. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at 1% very short, 6% short, 83% adequate, and 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated at 1% very short, 8% short, 85% adequate, and 6% surplus. Corn silking reached 90%, compared to 85% last year. Corn dough was at 18%, compared to 23% for the 5-year average. Corn condition was rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 14% fair, 58 percent good, and 24% excellent.

Soybeans blooming was at 76%, compared to 67% last year. Soybeans setting pods reached 33%. Soybean condition was rated 2% very poor, 4% poor, 17% fair, 58% good, and 19% excellent.

Oats harvested reached 51%, a jump of 14 percentage points from last week.

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Indiana

Scattered rain showers provided enough moisture to alleviate stress to crops in many areas. Statewide average temperature was 78.8 degrees, above normal by 3.3 degrees. Statewide precipitation was 1.54 inches, above normal by 0.48 inches.

There were 5.0 days available for fieldwork for the week ending July 24, unchanged from the previous week. Topsoil moisture is 4% very short, 16% short, 71% adequate and 9% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 4% very short, 16% short, 74% adequate and 6% surplus.

Corn silking is 78% with 74% being the five year average. Corn dough is 10% with the five year average 7%. Corn crop condition 7% very poor and poor, 18% fair and 75% good to excellent.

Soybeans blooming is 70% with 67% being the five year average. Soybeans setting pods is 35% with the five year average 28%. Soybean crop condition is 7% very poor to poor, 20% fair and 73% good to excellent.

Winter wheat harvested is at 99% with 96% being the five year average.

Iowa

Recent heat and humidity helped speed crop development although frequent rains allowed Iowa farmers only 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending July 24, 2016. Topsoil moisture levels rated 1% very short, 9% short, 81% adequate and 9% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2% very short, 10% short, 82% adequate and 6% surplus.

Eighty-seven percent of the corn crop reached the silking stage, 8 days ahead of normal, with 11 percent of the corn crop reaching the dough stage. Corn condition rated 82% good to excellent.

Soybeans blooming reached 83%, 6 days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Forty-four percent of soybeans were setting pods, 6 days ahead of average. Soybean condition rated 81% good to excellent last week. Oats harvested for grain or seed reached 54%, 2 days ahead of last year. Oat crop condition rated 79% good to excellent.

Kansas

For the week ending July 24, 2016, above-normal temperatures stressed crops. Precipitation of up to an inch was recorded around parts of the State. There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 4% very short, 21% short, 70% adequate, and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 3% very short, 17% short, 77% adequate, and 3% surplus.

Corn condition rated 1% very poor, 6% poor, 26% fair, 57% good, and 10% excellent. Corn silking was 86%, ahead of 75% last year and 76% for the five-year average. Corn dough was 13%, near 15% last year, but behind 26% average.

Soybean condition rated 2% very poor, 8% poor, 34% fair, 50% good, and 6% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 56%, ahead of 43% last year and 50% average. Setting pods was 17%, near 13% last year, and ahead of 11% average.

Sorghum condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 25% fair, 62% good, and 9% excellent. Sorghum headed was 27%, ahead of 9% last year and 11% average. Coloring was 1%, near 0% both last year and average.

Cotton condition rated 1% very poor, 1% poor, 32% fair, 63% good, and 3% excellent. Cotton squaring was 53%, near 51% last year, but behind 66% average. Setting bolls was 8%, near 4% last year and 11% average.

Sunflower condition rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 27% fair, 65% good, and 5% excellent. Sunflowers emerged was 96%, near 94% last year, and equal to average. Blooming was 20%, ahead of 13% last year and 15% average.

Michigan

There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending July 24, 2016. Rainfall late in the week assisted crop development in lower central Michigan, but the rest of the state were still experiencing dry conditions due to continued high temperatures and high humidity.

There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork, down slightly from the previous week's 5.9 days. Topsoil moisture is 16% very short, 35% short, 45% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 16% very short, 38% short, 44% adequate and 2% surplus.

Corn silking is 54% with 56% being the five year average. Corn dough was 1%. Corn crop condition is 13% very poor to poor, 31% fair and 56% good to excellent.

Soybeans blooming is 67% and soybean setting pods is 20% with that number also being the five year average. Soybean crop condition is 13% very poor to poor, 28% fair and 59% good to excellent.

Winter wheat harvested is 81% with 66% being the five year average. Oats mature is 50% and oats harvested is 6% with 11% being the five year average. Oats crop condition is 6% very poor to poor, 29% fair and 65% good to excellent.

Minnesota

Hot and humid weather aided corn development during the week ending July 24, 2016. There were 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork. There were reports of heavy rain and strong winds during the first half of the week across most of the state.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0% very short, 1% short, 75% adequate, and 24% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 4% short, 77% adequate, and 18% surplus.

Minnesota's corn acreage jumped 35 percentage points to 86 percent silking, 8 days ahead of the five-year average and 5 days ahead of last year. Across the southern two-thirds of Minnesota some corn acreage was entering the dough stage. Corn condition rated 84% good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from the previous week.

With 90 percent of the soybean crop blooming or beyond, 39 percent of the soybean crop was setting pods, 5 days ahead of average and 1 day ahead of last year. Soybean condition rated 78% good to excellent.

Eighty-six percent of the spring wheat acreage was turning color, 15 days ahead of average and 1 day ahead of last year. There were a few reports of spring wheat harvested, and the condition rated 69% good to excellent.

With ninety-two percent of the oat crop turning color, 10% was harvested for grain, 3 days behind average but 1 day ahead of the previous year. Oat condition rated 78% good to excellent, down 3 percentage points from the previous week. Ninety percent of the barley crop was turning color and 5% was harvested. Barley condition rated 62% good to excellent.

Missouri

Hotter conditions with less rainfall allowed growers an average of 5.4 days suitable for field work this past week. Temperatures averaged 83.3 degrees, 4.9 degrees above normal, and rainfall amounts averaged 0.48 inch, 0.44 inch below normal. The state's topsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short, 17% short, 75% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short, 15% short, 78% adequate, and 4% surplus. The corn crop was 37% in dough stage, well ahead of 25% last year and just up from 33% on average. Corn condition was rated 75% in good to excellent condition. Soybeans were 58% blooming, up from 30% last year and 46% on average. Twenty-one percent of beans were setting pods, well ahead of 8% last year and 11% on average. Soybean condition was rated 83% in good to excellent condition. The cotton crop was 34% setting bolls and 85% was rated in good to excellent condition. A tiny bit -- 5% -- of the sorghum crop is starting to turn color and 90% was rated in good to excellent condition.

Nebraska

Temperatures averaged four degrees above normal this past week, with rainfall amounts totaling an inch or more across the southwest and parts of the southern Panhandle. Eastern Nebraska remained mostly dry, and drought conditions mounted in the south central counties. Overall, farmers had 6.2 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 8% very short, 27% short, 64% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% very short, 23% short, 71% adequate and 1% surplus. The state's corn crop was 13% in dough stages, up from 9% last year and the same as the five-year average. Corn was rated 79% in good to excellent condition. Soybeans were 19% setting pods, down from 28% last year and on average. Soybeans were rated 77% in good to excellent condition. Winter wheat was 92% harvested, up from 76% last year and 74% on average. Wheat condition was rated 75% in good to excellent condition.

North Dakota

Temperatures averaged two to six degrees above normal across the state this past week. Rainfall amounts from statewide storms totaled an inch or more. Producers were left with five days suitable for field work, which mostly involved spraying, haying, and getting equipment ready for harvest. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% very short, 12% short, 71% adequate, and 15% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short, 14% short, 71% adequate, and 12% surplus. Winter wheat was 13% harvested, up from zero last year. Winter wheat condition was rated 72% in good to excellent condition. Spring wheat was 72% coloring, up from 59% last year and 36% on average. Spring wheat was rated 71% in good to excellent condition. The corn crop was 45% silking, near 42% last year and 42% on average. Corn was rated 78% in good to excellent condition. Soybeans were 36% setting pods, down from 43% last year but near the 31% average. Soybeans were rated 71% in good to

Ohio

Spotty statewide rains brought relief to some, but left many others to contend with the effects of continued hot and dry weather. There were 6.3 days available for fieldwork for the week ending July 24th. Topsoil moisture was 22% very short, 40% short, 34% adequate, 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 15% very short, 36% short, 45% adequate and 4% surplus.

Corn silking was 58% with a five year average of 62%. Corn dough was 1% with 6% being the five year average. Corn crop condition is 9% very poor to poor, 31% fair, 60% good to excellent.

Soybean blooming is 70% with a five year average of 62%. Soybean setting pods is 19% with 17% being the five year average. Soybean crop condition is 8% very poor to poor, 28% fair and 64% good to excellent.

Oats harvested is 63% with a five year average of 38%. Oats crop condition is 3% poor to very poor, 25% fair and 72% good to excellent.

Oklahoma

Another dry and hot week wrapped up across the state. Eight percent of the state was rated in moderate drought and 35% percent was rated abnormally dry, both up 1% from last week. Temperatures averaged in the mid-80s and the state was mostly without rainfall. On average, farmers had 6.6 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% very short, 31% short, 62% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short, 23% short, 72% adequate, and 2% surplus. The state's corn crop was 74% silking, down from 84% last year and 83% on average. Eighteen percent of the corn is in dough stage, down from 23% last year and well behind 42% on average. Corn condition was rated 75% in good to excellent condition. Soybeans were 34% blooming, up from 27% last year and 30% on average. Soybeans setting pods reached 12%, up from 5% last year and on average. Soybeans were rated 67% in good to excellent condition. Sorghum was 38% headed, 7% coloring and rated 73% in good to excellent condition. Cotton was 65% squaring and 19% setting bolls and rated 54% in good to excellent condition.

South Dakota

Most of the state experienced high temperatures and extreme humidity this past week, with rainfalls brining relief to isolated areas. Overall, farmers had six days suitable for field work on average. The continued dry, hot weather helped the spring wheat harvest start to get underway in parts of the state, and winter wheat and oats harvested progressed ahead of average, as well. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 13% very short, 34% short, 52% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 12% very short, 34% short, 53% adequate, and 1% surplus. The state's winter wheat harvest was 82% complete, far ahead of 36% last year and 38% on average. Spring wheat was 20% harvested, up from just 1% last year and 14% on average. Spring wheat condition was rated 41% in good to excellent condition. The corn crop was 67% silking and 5% in dough stage, up from 63% silking and 1% dough last year and 51% silking and 3% dough stage on average. Corn condition was rated 60% in good to excellent condition. Soybeans were 42% setting pods, up from 23% last year and 21% on average. Soybean condition was rated 61% in good to excellent condition.

Texas

The state saw little to no rainfall this past week, but plenty of wind and high temperatures persisted, particularly in the Northern High Plains and Edwards Plateau. The Southern High Plains received some scattered hail storms. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 22% very short, 52% short, 24% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 16% very short, 42% short, 40% adequate, and just 2% surplus. As a result, farmers had an average of 6.9 days suitable for field work. The state's corn crop was 52% dented, up from 47% last year, but below the five-year average of 58%. Forty-one percent of the corn was mature, up from 30% last year and near 44% on average. Corn condition was rated 59% in good to excellent condition. Soybeans were 70% blooming and 40% setting pods, compared to 67% blooming and 40% settings pods last year and 75% blooming and 43% setting pods on average. Soybean condition was rated 52% in good to excellent condition. Sorghum was 50% mature and 30% harvested, up from 38% mature and 18% harvested last year and 56% mature and 35% harvested on average. Sorghum condition was rated 58% in good to excellent condition. The state's cotton was 36% setting bolls, up from 27% last year and 30% on average. Just 6% of bolls have opened, near 7% last year and 8% on average. Cotton condition was rated 45% in good to excellent condition.

Wisconsin

A hot, muggy week wrapped up in Wisconsin, with scattered thunderstorms and reports of wind damage. Overall, farmers had 4.2 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 6% short, 84% adequate, and 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 8% short, 83% adequate and 8% surplus. The state's corn crop was 64% silking, up from 49% last year and 44% on average. Corn was rated 86% in good to excellent condition. Soybeans were 44% setting pods, up from just 23% last year and 15% on average. Soybeans were rated 86% in good to excellent condition. Winter wheat was 45% harvested, up from 16% last year. Wheat condition was rated 88% in good to excellent condition.

National Crop Progress Summary
This Last Last 5-Yr
Week Week Year Avg
Corn Silking 79 56 71 70
Corn Dough 13 NA 12 13
Soybeans Blooming 76 59 67 66
Soybeans Setting Pods 35 18 29 26
Winter Wheat Harvested 83 76 82 79
Cotton Squaring 85 77 82 84
Cotton Setting Bolls 46 28 41 43
Sorghum Headed 49 39 42 41
Sorghum Coloring 23 19 22 26
Oats Harvested 37 22 24 30
Rice Headed 57 41 48 41
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 1 4 19 57 19 1 4 19 57 19 2 7 21 53 17
Soybeans 2 5 22 56 15 2 5 22 57 14 3 8 27 49 13
Spring Wheat 2 6 24 58 10 2 5 24 58 11 1 6 22 56 15
Sorghum 1 5 29 54 11 - 3 29 57 11 2 4 26 59 9
Oats 3 7 26 53 11 3 7 24 55 11 4 7 21 55 13
Barley 1 3 23 58 15 1 3 23 58 15 1 5 25 51 18
Cotton 3 10 35 43 9 1 9 36 45 9 1 7 35 47 10
Rice 2 5 26 51 16 2 5 25 53 15 2 4 25 49 20

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