USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Report Remains Neutral for Corn, Soybeans

(DTN photo illustration by Nick Scalise)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Corn condition improved slightly from the previous week while soybean condition was down by 1 percentage point, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

USDA estimated that 62% of corn was in good-to-excellent condition at the end of last week, up slightly from 60% the previous week. That resulted in a DTN Corn Condition Index of 148, up 5 points from the previous week. DTN's index is down from 179 a year ago and is still lower than the past four years, according to DTN Analyst Todd Hultman.

Corn progress continued to lag behind the normal pace with 97% of the crop silking as of Sunday, down from 99% a year ago and below the five-year average of 98%. Sixty-one percent of corn had reached the dough stage, down from 70% a year ago, and down from the five-year average of 62%. Sixteen percent of corn was dented, down from 19% a year ago and down from the five-year average of 20% dented.

"Monday's USDA Crop Progress report is neutral for corn," Hultman said.

Soybean progress, on the other hand, was slightly ahead of normal with 94% of soybeans blooming as of Sunday, even with a year ago and above the five-year average of 93%. Seventy-nine percent of soybeans were setting pods, which is up from 78% a year ago and above the five-year average of 75%.

Soybean condition fell slightly from 60% good to excellent the previous week to 59% good to excellent this past week. That resulted in a DTN Soybean Condition Index of 142, which is down 1 point from the previous week. The index is down from 173 a year ago and is still lower than the past four years.

"Monday's report is neutral for soybeans," Hultman said.

Meanwhile, USDA reported that 97% of winter wheat had been harvested as of Sunday, even with a year ago and above the five-year average of 96%.

"Monday's harvest progress is neutral for winter wheat," Hultman said.

Forty percent of spring wheat was harvested, down from 45% a year ago, but above the five-year average of 35% harvested. Thirty-three percent of spring wheat was rated good-to-excellent, up 1 percentage point from 32% the previous week. That resulted in a DTN Spring Wheat Condition Index of 31, which is the same as the previous ago. DTN's index is down from 155 a year ago and is still the lowest since 1988.

"Monday's report remains bullish for spring wheat," Hultman said.

Sorghum was 31% coloring, behind the average of 38%, and mature was 21%, also behind the average of 25% mature. Sorghum condition improved to 64% good to excellent from 61% good to excellent the previous week.

Barley was 52% harvested as of Sunday, ahead of the average pace of 40%. Oats were 66% harvested, behind the average of 72%.

Cotton was 98% squaring, 80% setting bolls and 10% bolls opening compared to an average pace of 99% squaring, 81% setting bolls and 10% bolls opening. Cotton condition improved to 61% good to excellent from 57% good to excellent the previous week. Rice was 91% headed, ahead of the average of 83%, and 12% of rice was harvested as of Sunday, ahead of the average of 9% harvested.

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/…

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Colorado

Widespread moisture across the state this past week improved crop conditions but delayed field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 14% short, 78% adequate and 7% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 16% short, 80% adequate and 3% surplus. On average, farmers had 4.2 days suitable for field work. The state's corn crop was 25% in dough stages and 1% dented, compared to 28% dough and 2% dented last year and 33% dough and 4% dented on average. Corn was rated 74% in good-to-excellent condition. Spring wheat was 91% turning color and 8% harvested, compared to 77% turning color and 14% harvested last year and 84% turning color and 20% dented on average. Wheat was rated 66% in good-to-excellent condition.

Illinois

A dry, cool week wrapped up this past week, with farmers seeing an average of 6.2 days suitable for field work. Statewide, the average temperature was 69.2 degrees, 4.5 degrees below normal, and rainfall amounts averaged 0.4 inch, 0.43 inch below normal. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 7% very short, 35% short, 58% adequate and no surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% very short, 32% short, 62% adequate and 1% surplus. The state's corn crop was 77% dough stages and 26% dented, compared to 76% dough and 22% dented last year and 76% dough and 30% dented on average. Corn was rated 62% in good-to-excellent condition. Eighty-three percent of soybeans were setting pods, up from 79% last year and on average. Soybeans were rated 63% in good-to-excellent condition.

Indiana

Lack of rainfall continued this past week, which has led to increased irrigation. Fortunately, cooler temperatures this past week have helped crops use less water. Statewide, the average temperature was 69.1 degrees, 3.7 degrees below normal. Rainfall amounts averaged just 0.24 inch, below average by 0.65 inch. Overall, famers had an average of 6.3 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% very short, 24% short, 70% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 20% short, 75% adequate and 4% surplus. The state's corn crop was 65% dough stages and 20% dented, compared to 69% dough and 21% dented last year and 62% dough and 20% dented on average. Corn was rated 55% in good-to-excellent condition. Soybeans were 78% setting pods, the same as last year and near the five-year average of 94%. Soybeans were rated 56% in good-to-excellent condition.

Iowa

Cooler-than-normal temperatures and little rainfall this past week left farmers with an average of 6.3 days suitable for field work. Statewide, temperatures averaged 4.6 degrees below normal. Rainfall amounts averaged just 0.19 inch, down from 0.97 inch on average. They spent those primarily applying fungicides and insecticides, hauling grain and haying. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 30% very short, 32% short, 37% adequate and no surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 25% very short, 33% short, 42% adequate and no surplus. The state's corn crop was 62% dough stages and 8% dented, compared to 77% dough and 21% dented last year and 60% dough and 18% dented on average. Corn was rated 61% in good-to-excellent condition. Soybeans were 82% setting pods, down from 86% last year but just above the five-year average of 79%. Soybeans were rated 56% in good-to-excellent condition.

Kansas

Cool temperatures visited the state again this past week. Much of the state received an inch or more of rain, but roughly half remains in drought conditions. Overall, farmers had 4.3 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 6% very short, 27% short, 59% adequate and 8% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short, 26% short, 68% adequate and 2% surplus. The state's corn crop was 70% dough stages and 24% dented, compared to 75% dough and 27% dented last year and 73% dough and 29% dented on average. Corn was rated 55% in good-to-excellent condition. Soybeans were 66% setting pods, up from 55% last year and 53% on average. Soybeans were rated 52% in good-to-excellent condition.

Michigan

Mild temperatures this past week helped crops recover from extreme rainfalls earlier in the season in central and northern Michigan. In the southern part of the state, the lack of moisture this past week is stressing crops, however. Overall, farmers had an average of 6.1 days suitable for field work. The state's corn crop was 39% dough and 3% dented, compared to 45% dough and 1% dented last year and 45% dough and 4% dented on average. Corn was rated 58% in good-to-excellent condition. Soybeans were 76% setting pods, up from 73% last year and near 78% on average. Soybeans were rated 55% in good-to-excellent condition.

Minnesota

Cool temperatures and some rainfall left farmers with 4.6 days suitable for field work. Those were devoted mostly to harvesting small grains and spraying pesticides. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short, 17% short, 73% adequate and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short, 17% short, 76% adequate and 4% surplus. The state's corn crop was 54% dough stages, down from 75% last year but near the five-year average of 56%. Corn was rated 81% in good-to-excellent condition. Soybeans were 84% setting pods, down from 88% last year and just above 83% on average. Soybeans were rated 74% in good-to-excellent condition. Spring wheat was 26% harvested, well below 55% last year and 45% on average. Wheat was rated 87% in good-to-excellent condition.

Missouri

Across the state, temperatures averaged 71.6 degrees, 4.4 degrees below normal. Rainfall amounts averaged 0.82 inch, very close to the weekly norm. Overall, farmers had 5.5 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 9% very short, 28% short, 59% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% very short, 30% short, 64% adequate and 1% surplus. The state's corn crop was 85% dough and 47% dented, compared to 84% dough and 37% dented, and 81% dough and 44% dented on average. Corn was rated 64% in good-to-excellent condition. Soybeans were 88% blooming and 64% setting pods, compared to 83% blooming and 53% setting pods last year and 81% blooming and 50% setting pods on average. Soybeans were rated 64% in good-to-excellent condition.

Nebraska

A cool, wet weather pattern dominated this past week. Overall, farmers had 5.7 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was rated 14% very short, 38% short, 47% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 14% very short, 39% short, 47% adequate and no surplus. The state's corn crop was 65% dough and 14% dented, compared to 72% dough and 16% dented last year and 66% dough and 19% dented on average. Corn was rated 63% in good-to-excellent condition. Soybeans were 78% setting pods, near 79% last year and 80% on average. Soybeans were rated 61% in good-to-excellent condition.

North Dakota

Moisture and cooler temperatures brought relief to most of North Dakota last week. Rainfall amounts ranged from one-half to one-and-a-half inches, with some isolated areas receiving over 3 inches. The moisture benefitted row crops and pastures too, but the effects of earlier drought conditions were still being felt. Temperatures across the state averaged 2 to 8 degrees below normal. Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies were rated 22% very short, 34% short, 42% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 22% very short, 34% short, 42% adequate and 2% surplus. Corn silking was 94%, dough was 37% and dented was 1%, behind the average pace of 5% dented. Corn condition was rated 48% good to excellent. Soybeans blooming was 94% and setting pods was 78%, behind the average of 85% setting pods. Soybean condition was rated 44% good to excellent. Winter wheat mature was 98% and harvested was 75%, behind 85% last year. Spring wheat harvested was 36%, ahead of 31% average. Barley harvested was 52%, ahead of 41% average. Oats harvested was 57%, ahead of 40% average. Durum wheat coloring was 95%, ahead of 79% average, and mature was 55%. Durum wheat condition was rated 7% good to excellent. Canola coloring was 90%, ahead of 82% average, and harvested was 10%. Canola condition was rated 38% good to excellent.

Ohio

Aside from sporadic rainfall, most of the state received little to no rainfall last week. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 1% very short, 17% short, 77% adequate and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1% very short, 12% short, 81% adequate and 6% surplus. Corn was 95% silking, behind the average of 97%. Corn was 55% in the dough stage, near the average pace of 56%, and 6% of corn was dented, behind the average of 12% dented. Corn condition was rated 58% good to excellent. Soybeans were 91% blooming, behind the average of 95%, and 73% of soybeans were setting pods, behind the average of 78%. Soybean condition was rated 55% good to excellent. Oats were 95% harvested, ahead of the average of 88%.

Oklahoma

All districts recorded above-normal precipitation with statewide rainfall totals averaging 2.33 inches. The east-central district recorded the largest departures at 46% above normal, while the central district recorded the lowest at 13% above normal. As of Aug. 8, drought conditions were rated 41% abnormally dry to exceptional, down approximately 8 points from the previous week and up 3 points from the previous year. Overall, the precipitation for the summer crop season has been 25% above normal. Statewide temperatures last week averaged in the mid-80s. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 16% short, 76% adequate and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3% very short, 26% short, 68% adequate and 3% surplus. Corn dough reached 68%, down 1 point from normal. Corn dent reached 27%, down 7 points from normal. Corn condition was rated 66% good to excellent. Sorghum headed reached 65%, down 3 points from normal. Sorghum coloring reached 38%, up 8 points from normal. Sorghum mature reached 2%, down 3 points from normal. Sorghum condition was rated 48% good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 70%, up 8 points from normal. Soybeans setting pods reached 37%, up 13 points from normal. Soybean condition was rated 72% good to excellent. Cotton setting bolls reached 60%, down 2 points from normal. Cotton bolls opening reached 2%, up 1 point from the previous year and up 1 point from normal. Cotton condition was rated 89% good to excellent.

South Dakota

Showers and thunderstorms brought much-needed precipitation to the state last week. Last week's rain, along with cooler temperatures, provided some drought relief to portions of South Dakota. However, rainfall totals varied widely, leaving some locations with little to no precipitation. Moisture conditions remained short to very short for a majority of the State. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 25% very short, 41 short and 34 adequate. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 34% very short, 41 short and 25 adequate. Winter wheat harvested was 95%, ahead of 89% for the five-year average. Spring wheat mature was 96% and harvested was 79%, well ahead of 59% average. Oats mature was 95% and harvested was 80%, near 83 average. Barley mature was 83%, near 80% average, and harvested was 30%, well behind 72% last year. Barley condition was rated 56% very poor, 26% poor and 18% fair. Corn silking was 96%, dough was 45%, and dented was 4%, behind the average of 8% dented. Corn condition was rated 34% good to excellent. Soybeans blooming was 95%, setting pods was 82% and dropping leaves was 1%, equal to the average of 1% dropping leaves. Soybean condition was rated 34% good to excellent. Sorghum headed was 73%, coloring was 14% and mature was 2%. Sorghum condition was rated 6% good to excellent.

Texas

The northern High Plains, the Blacklands, east Texas and the Upper Coast received between 3.0 and 6.0 inches of rain last. Isolated areas in the Blacklands received upwards of 10 inches of precipitation. Delayed harvest and cooler temperatures were experienced in those areas receiving precipitation, while areas of south Texas remained hot and dry. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 6% very short, 27% short, 49% adequate and 18% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 11% very short, 24% short, 57% adequate and 8% surplus. Corn was 58% mature as of Sunday, ahead of the average of 55% mature, and 42% of corn was harvested, ahead of the average of 37%. Corn condition was rated 80% good to excellent. Cotton was 75% setting bolls, 13% bolls opening and 3% harvested as of Sunday. Rice was 52% harvested, well ahead of the average of 34%. Sorghum was 68% coloring, 58% mature and 51% harvested, ahead of the average pace of 48% harvested. Soybeans were 86% setting pods, ahead of the average of 72%, and 25% dropping leaves, ahead of the average of 17% dropping leaves. Soybean condition was rated 62% good to excellent.

Wisconsin

Rain interrupted fieldwork midweek, with northern Wisconsin receiving most of the precipitation. Temperatures were slightly below normal, with daytime highs in the 70s most of the week. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 7% short, 83% adequate and 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% short, 86% adequate and 12% surplus. Ninety-one percent of Wisconsin's corn has reached the silking stage or beyond, 10 days behind last year. Thirty-four percent of the corn has reached dough stage, one week behind last year. There were a few reports of corn reaching the dent stage. Corn condition was 70% good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week. Ninety-two percent of the state's soybeans were blooming, one day ahead of average. Seventy-seven percent were setting pods, two days ahead of average. Soybean condition rated 75% good to excellent, unchanged from last week. Oats turning color was reported at 95%, 10 days behind last year. Harvesting of oats for grain was reported at 43% complete, 10 days behind last year, and 8 days behind the average. Oats condition was 79% good to excellent, 1 percentage point below last week. Winter wheat harvested was reported at 91% complete, four days behind last year.

National Crop Progress Summary
This Last Last 5-Year
Week Week Year Avg.
Corn Silking 97 93 99 98
Corn Dough 61 42 70 62
Corn Dented 16 7 19 20
Soybeans Blooming 94 90 94 93
Soybeans Setting Pods 79 65 78 75
Winter Wheat Harvested 97 94 97 96
Spring Wheat Harvested 40 24 45 35
Cotton Squaring 98 93 99 99
Cotton Setting Bolls 80 58 85 81
Cotton Bolls Opening 10 8 12 10
Sorghum Headed 75 62 82 74
Sorghum Coloring 31 26 40 38
Sorghum Mature 21 NA 22 25
Oats Harvested 66 50 78 72
Barley Harvested 52 25 52 40
Rice Headed 91 84 93 83
Rice Harvested 12 9 12 9

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 9 26 49 13 4 9 27 47 13 2 5 19 53 21
Soybeans 3 9 29 49 10 3 9 28 50 10 2 5 21 55 17
Spring Wheat 24 18 25 27 6 22 21 25 25 7 3 6 25 56 10
Sorghum 2 6 28 54 10 2 7 30 52 9 1 6 28 52 13
Cotton 8 4 27 44 17 6 8 29 41 16 3 15 34 40 8
Barley 9 13 29 39 10 8 12 35 37 8 1 4 24 56 15
Rice 1 6 22 56 15 1 5 22 55 17 2 6 27 49 16

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