USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Report Neutral for Corn, Bearish for Soybeans

(DTN photo illustration by Nick Scalise)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Soybean conditions improved slightly last week while corn conditions continued to hold steady, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

USDA estimated soybean conditions at 61% good to excellent as of Sunday, Aug. 27, up 1 percentage point from 60% the previous week. That resulted in a DTN Soybean Condition Index of 147, which is up 4 points from the previous week. The index is down from 175 a year ago and is lower than the past three years. "Monday's report is bearish for soybeans," said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman.

USDA said 93% of soybeans were setting pods as of Sunday, even with a year ago and above the five-year average of 92%. Six percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, up from 5% for both a year ago and the five-year average.

Meanwhile, corn progress continued to lag behind the average pace last week. USDA estimated that 86% of corn had reached the dough stage as of Sunday, down from 91% a year ago, and down slightly from the five-year average of 87%. Forty-four percent of corn was dented, down from 57% a year ago and down from the five-year average of 51% dented. Six percent of the corn crop was considered mature, down from 8% a year ago and down from the five-year average of 10% mature.

Corn was rated 62% in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week. That resulted in a DTN Corn Condition Index of 149, unchanged from the previous week. DTN's index is down from 180 a year ago and is lower than the previous three years. South Dakota showed modest improvement for both corn and soybeans in this week's report. "Monday's report is neutral for corn," Hultman said.

Spring wheat harvest progressed to 76% complete as of Sunday, down from 79% a year ago, but above the five-year average of 66% harvested. "Monday's harvest progress is neutral for spring wheat prices," Hultman said.

Sorghum was 49% coloring, behind the average of 54%, and mature was 29%, also behind the average of 31% mature. Sorghum harvested was 21%, near the average of 22%. Sorghum condition dropped slightly to 65% good to excellent from 66% good to excellent the previous week.

Barley was 83% harvested as of Sunday, ahead of the average pace of 73%. Oats were 86% harvested, behind the average of 90%.

Cotton was 93% setting bolls and 18% bolls opening compared to an average pace of 93% setting bolls and 20% bolls opening. Cotton condition improved to 65% good to excellent from 63% good to excellent the previous week. Rice was 24% harvested as of Sunday, ahead of the average of 20% 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/…

Colorado

Drier conditions and warmer weather throughout the state last week allowed fieldwork activities to proceed with minimal delay and helped push crops toward maturity. Days suitable for fieldwork is 6.8 days, up from the previous week's 5.9 days. Topsoil moisture is 1% very short, 14% short, 80% adequate and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 1% very short, 17% short, 80% adequate and 2% surplus. Barley harvested at 58% with five-year average at 59%. Barley crop condition is 6% very poor to poor, 33% fair and 61% good to excellent. Corn dough is 63% with 78% being the five-year average. Corn dented is 15% with 35% the five-year average. Corn silage harvested is 4% with five-year average at 8%. Corn crop condition is 6% very poor to poor, 21% fair and 73% good to excellent. Sorghum headed is 91% with 84% the five-year average. Sorghum turning color is 25% with 35% the five-year average. Sorghum crop condition is 13% very poor to poor, 13% fair and 74% good to excellent. Spring wheat turning color is 96% with five-year average 97%. Spring wheat harvested is 29% with five-year average at 43%. Spring wheat crop condition is 5% poor, 25% fair and 70% good to excellent.

Illinois

Cooler weather prevailed across the state last week. There 5.9 were days suitable for fieldwork last week. Statewide, the average temperature was 68.9 degrees, 4.7 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.79 inches, 0.07 inch above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at 11% very short, 37% short, 51% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated at 9% very short, 37% short, 53% adequate, and 1% surplus. Corn in the dough stage was at 94%, compared to 94% last year. Corn dented was at 54%, compared to 63% for the five-year average. Corn mature was at 2%, compared to 14% for the five-year average. Corn condition was rated 4% very poor, 10% poor, 34% fair, 42% good, and 10% excellent. Soybeans setting pods was at 96%, compared to 93% last year. Soybean coloring was at 8%, compared to 9% for the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 4% very poor, 10% poor, 29% fair, 50% good, and 7% excellent.

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Indiana

Condition ratings for corn and soybeans remain virtually unchanged after a relatively cool and dry week. The statewide average temperature was 68.2 degrees, 4.2 degrees below normal. Statewide precipitation was 0.65 inch, below average by 0.03 inch. There were 6.0 days available for fieldwork last week, 0.3 days fewer than the previous week. Topsoil moisture is 10% very short, 31% short, 57% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 7% very short, 28% short, 63 adequate and 2% surplus. Corn dough is 89% with 88% being the five-year average. Corn dented is 53% with 50% the five-year average. Corn mature is 3% with 7% the five-year average. Corn harvested for silage is 3%. Corn crop condition is 18% very poor to poor, 30% fair and 52% good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods is 93% with five-year average of 94%. Soybeans dropping leaves is 5%, also the five-year average. Soybean crop condition is 16% very poor to poor, 31% fair and 53% good to excellent

Iowa

Iowa experienced below-normal temperatures and received adequate rain throughout the western half of the state last week. Statewide there were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included haying, hauling grain, chopping corn, and harvest equipment preparation. Topsoil moisture levels improved to 13% very short, 26% short, 60% adequate and 1% surplus. Topsoil moisture levels in south central Iowa were reported at 85% short to very short. This is the first time in five weeks that topsoil moisture has been less than 90% short to very short in that district. Subsoil moisture levels rated 18% very short, 31% short, 50% adequate and 1% surplus. Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop was in or beyond the dough stage, eight days behind last year, but two days ahead of the five-year average. Forty-one percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage, eight days behind last year and four days behind average. Sixty percent of the corn crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition. Ninety-four percent of soybeans were setting pods, two days behind last year but one day ahead of average. Six percent of soybeans started to turn color, three days behind average. Soybean condition improved slightly to 60% good to excellent. Similar pests and weeds as last year were reported for soybeans, with limited reports of disease pressure such as sudden death syndrome or mold issues.

Kansas

Temperatures were below normal across most of the state last week. Heavy rains fell in eastern counties, with some locations receiving as much as six inches. Corn harvest began in southeast Kansas. There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 6% very short, 25% short, 65% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 5% very short, 26% short, 66% adequate, and 3% surplus. Corn condition rated 4% very poor, 12% poor, 29% fair, 41% good, and 14% excellent. Corn dough was 89%, near 91% last year and the five-year average of 92%. Dented was 58%, near 62% last year and 61% average. Mature was 15%, near 14% last year, but behind 20% average. Soybean condition rated 2% very poor, 9% poor, 36% fair, 46% good, and 7% excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 88%, ahead of 80% last year and 78% average. Dropping leaves was 3%, near 2% last year and 4% average. Sorghum condition rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 32% fair, 46% good, and 14% excellent. Sorghum headed was 88%, behind 95% last year, but equal to average. Coloring was 26%, well behind 47% last year, and behind 34% average. Mature was 3%, equal to last year, and near 2% average. Cotton condition rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 37% fair, 49% good, and 6% excellent. Cotton squaring was 95%, near 92% last year, and equal to average. Setting bolls was 54%, behind 63% last year and 71% average. Bolls opening was 10%, near 6% last year, and equal to average.

Michigan

There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Cooler temperatures this past week raised concern regarding crop maturity. Some areas of the State received plenty of rain the past few weeks while other areas were still experiencing moisture stress. Topsoil moisture is 15% very short, 36% short, 46% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture is 16% very short, 30% short, 51% adequate and 3% surplus. Corn dough is 70% with five-year average at 76%. Corn dented is 23% with 27% the five-year average. Corn crop condition is 13% very poor to poor, 32% fair and 54% good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods is 77% with 91% the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves is 3%. Soybeans crop condition is 12% very poor to poor, 33% fair and 55% good to excellent. Oats harvest is 74% with 85% the five-year average.

Minnesota

Cool and damp conditions further delayed the small grain harvest and row crop development in Minnesota last week. There were 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork, slightly above last week's 2.6 days. There were some reports of white mold visible on soybeans due to the precipitation. Minnesota farmers are hoping for sunshine and warmer temperatures to aid row crop development. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 13% short, 71% adequate and 13% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 12% short, 76% adequate and 9% surplus. Eighty-five percent of the corn crop was at or beyond the dough stage, 9 days behind last year. Thirty-three percent of the corn crop reached the dent stage. Corn condition remained at 82% good to excellent. Nearly all of the soybean crop was setting pods, with 6% turning color. Soybean condition was 72% good to excellent. Sixty-five percent of the spring wheat crop was harvested, 6 days behind the five-year average. Oat harvest for grain or seed advanced 11 percentage points to 75% complete, well behind the average of 90% complete. Ninety-one percent of the barley crop was harvested, 1 week ahead of average. Ninety-eight percent of the dry edible bean crop was setting pods or beyond, with 29% dropping leaves.

Missouri

Cooler-than-average temperatures were felt across the state last week with temperatures averaging 71.4 degrees, 4.8 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 1.47 inches statewide, 0.69 inch above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 4% very short, 20% short, 73% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 5% very short, 21% short, 72% adequate and 2% surplus. Corn in the dough stage reached 96%. Corn dented reached 79%, up 15 percentage points from last week. Corn mature reached 11%, compared to 25% for the five-year average. Corn condition was 62% good and excellent. Soybeans setting pods reached 85%. Soybeans coloring reached 5%, compared to 4% for the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves was at 1%. Soybean condition was rated 64% good to excellent. Cotton setting bolls reached 98%. Cotton with bolls opening reached 15%. Cotton condition was rated 59% good to excellent. Rice headed was at 95%. Rice condition was rated 68% good to excellent.

Nebraska

Temperatures averaged near normal last week. Significant rainfall of an inch or more was received across most eastern counties; however, western counties and the panhandle area remained relatively dry. There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 7% very short, 23% short, 66% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 10% very short, 29% short, 60% adequate and 1% surplus. Corn dough was 94%, near 92% for the five-year average. Dented was 51%, behind 56% average. Mature was 1%, behind 7% average. Corn condition was rated 63% good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 97%, near 96% average. Dropping leaves was 3%, near 5% average. Soybean condition was rated 65% good to excellent. Sorghum headed was 98%, near 94% average. Coloring was 38%, near 39% average. Sorghum condition was rated 68% good to excellent.

North Dakota

Rainfall was limited and temperatures averaged slightly below normal across North Dakota last week. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 16% very short, 36% short, 47% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 17% very short, 37% short, 45% adequate and 1% surplus. Corn dough was 73% and dented was 18%. Corn mature was 1%, near 2% average. Corn condition was rated 50% good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 94%, near 97% average, and dropping leaves was 13%, near 12% average. Soybean condition was rated 51% good to excellent. Winter wheat harvested was 93% complete. Spring wheat mature was 98% and harvested was 71%, ahead of 61% average. Barley harvested was 88%, ahead of 71% average. Oats harvested was 85%, ahead of 71% average. Durum wheat mature was 82%, near 85% last year, and harvested was 38%. Canola harvested was 43%, near 41% average.

Ohio

Cooler-than-normal temperatures and dry conditions were unwelcome for most growers when moisture and warm weather could have helped with grain fill and maturity. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 6% very short, 33% short, 59% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4% very short, 28% short, 67% adequate and 1% surplus. Corn in dough stage was 85%, equal to the five-year average. Corn dented was 35%, behind the average of 41%, and corn mature was 1%, also behind the average of 3%. Corn condition was rated 59% good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 93%, behind the average of 95%, and dropping leaves was 1%, also behind the average of 5%. Soybean conditions were rated 56% good to excellent.

Oklahoma

For the second consecutive week, precipitation totals were above normal, with the largest departures experienced in the east-central and northeast districts. Statewide, temperatures averaged in the low 80s. Topsoil moisture was rated 11% short, 86% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 17% short, 82% adequate and 1% surplus. Corn dough reached 92%, dent reached 70% and mature reached 18%, down 10 points from normal mature. Corn condition was rated 59% good to excellent. Sorghum mature was equal to normal at 15%. Soybeans setting pods reached 64%, up 3 points from normal. Soybean conditions were rated 77% good to excellent. Cotton setting bolls reached 73%, down 15 points from normal, and cotton bolls opening reached 4%, down 8 points from normal. Cotton conditions were rated 87% good to excellent.

South Dakota

Cool and wet weather were again common across the state last week. The majority of the eastern two-thirds of South Dakota received an inch or more of rain and experienced cooler-than-normal temperatures. Meanwhile, the western third of the state received scattered showers and warmer weather. Overall, crop conditions showed some improvement. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 17% very short, 26% short, 55% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 26% very short, 34% short, 39% adequate, and 1% surplus. Spring wheat harvested was 93%, ahead of 85% for the five-year average. Oats harvested was 92%, behind 97% average. Barley mature was 96%, near 97% both last year and average. Harvested was 56%, well behind 92% last year and 79% average. Corn dough was 79%, behind 87% average. Dented was 23%, behind 40% average. Corn condition was rated 46% good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 94%, near 95% average. Dropping leaves was 5%, behind 12% average. Soybean condition was 49% good to excellent. Sorghum headed was 96%, near 97% average. Coloring was 28%, behind 46% average. Mature was 4%, near 3% average. Sorghum condition was rated 8% good to excellent.

Texas

Hurricane Harvey entered the state through the Gulf Coast on Friday. During the weekend, it left between 8 and 20 inches of rain in southeast Texas, south-central Texas, the Upper Coast and the Coastal Bend. Floods were reported in many of the affected areas. Rainfall is expected to continue during the rest of this week. The rest of the state received from 0.10 inch to 2.0 inches of precipitation, with areas in the Blacklands getting upwards of 5.0 inches. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 6% very short, 20% short, 53% adequate and 21% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7% very short, 24% short, 53% adequate and 16% surplus. Corn was 63% mature as of Sunday, equal to the five-year average, and harvested was 54%, near the average of 53%. Cotton was 91% setting bolls, 17% bolls opening and 12% harvested, ahead of the average of 5% harvested. Rice was 87% harvested, ahead of the average of 68% harvested. Sorghum was 58% harvested, ahead of the average of 56%. Soybeans were 45% dropping leaves, ahead of the average of 43%, and 5% of soybeans were harvested, behind the average of 14%.

Wisconsin

Temperatures were below normal last week, with overnight lows falling into the 30s in parts of northern Wisconsin. Days were sunny and dry, with some scattered showers over the weekend. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 8% short, 79% adequate and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% short, 87% adequate and 10% surplus. Sixty-eight percent of Wisconsin's corn has reached the dough stage or beyond, one day behind the five-year average. Seventeen percent of the corn has reached the dented stage, five days behind the average. Corn condition was 69% good to excellent, 2 percentage points below last week. Ninety-one percent of the state's soybeans were setting pods, one day behind the average. Soybean condition rated 73% good to excellent, 1 percentage point below last week. Harvesting of oats for grain was reported at 74% complete, 10 days behind the average.

National Crop Progress Summary
This Last Last 5-Year
Week Week Year Avg.
Corn Dough 86 76 91 87
Corn Dented 44 29 57 51
Corn Mature 6 NA 8 10
Soybeans Setting Pods 93 87 93 92
Soybeans Dropping Leaves 6 NA 5 5
Spring Wheat Harvested 76 58 79 66
Cotton Setting Bolls 93 88 95 93
Cotton Bolls Opening 18 12 22 20
Sorghum Headed 91 84 94 90
Sorghum Coloring 49 40 61 54
Sorghum Mature 29 26 32 31
Sorghum Harvested 21 19 18 22
Oats Harvested 86 78 94 90
Barley Harvested 83 70 84 73
Rice Harvested 24 16 21 20
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 48 14 3 9 26 48 14 2 5 18 54 21
Soybeans 3 8 28 50 11 3 9 28 50 10 2 5 20 55 18
Sorghum 2 5 28 52 13 2 5 27 56 10 1 5 29 52 13
Cotton 5 6 24 46 19 5 6 26 48 15 4 12 36 39 9
Rice 1 6 21 55 17 1 6 24 54 15 5 8 27 47 13

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