Crop ratings decline—How are your crops and soil moisture?

Nationally, 60% of corn is in good to excellent condition, down 2% from last week compared to 7% at this time last year.  61% of soybeans are rated good to excellent, 1% more than the prior week but 5% less than a year ago.  Corn conditions declined in all states except Michigan, Minnesota, and South Dakota.

Illinois crops continue to be stressed because of heat and lack of moisture.  Growing degree days are well ahead of normal, anywhere from 160 to 210 above average for this time of year.  The corn crop’s condition decreased from last week. It is now rated at 9 percent excellent, 41 percent good, 33 percent fair, 13 percent poor, and 4 percent very poor.  Soybean condition is rated at 10 percent excellent, 47 percent good, 32 percent fair, and 11 percent poor or very poor. Topsoil moisture across the state is 18 percent very short, 37 percent short, 42 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.  12% of IL corn moved out of the good to excellent rating.

Indiana reports prevailing hot, dry conditions are causing a growing concern over the impact it will have on crop yields.  Corn condition is rated 41 percent good to excellent compared with 65 percent last year at this time.  Soybean condition is rated 44 percent good to excellent compared with 65 percent last year at this time.  Topsoil moisture is 69% short to very short. IN corn dropped 5% out of the good to excellent category.

Iowa has topsoil moisture levels rated 10 percent very short, 28 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.  Corn condition declined slightly to 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 22 percent excellent.  Soybean condition was nearly unchanged from previous reports at 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 52 percent good and 23 percent excellent.  Iowa corn dropped 7% out of the good to excellent rating.

Kansas received rain and reports topsoil moisture supplies improved to 41 percent very short, 25 percent short, 32 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. This is the first week since June 19 that topsoil moisture ratings improved from the previous week.  Despite the rain last week, the condition of the corn crop declined to 22 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 27 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.  Soybean condition declined slightly to 16 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 25 percent good, and 4 percent excellent.  Three percent of Kansas corn dropped out of the good to excellent rating.

Michigan topsoil moisture is 69% adequate and 2% short.  Corn condition is 65% good to excellent and 22% fair, 16% above last week.  Soybean conditions are 62% good to excellent and 27% fair.

Minnesota reports topsoil moisture supplies were rated 71 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus.  Crop conditions generally remained unchanged from the previous week:  55 percent of corn was rated good and 19 percent was rated excellent, while 52 percent of soybeans were rated good and 18 percent were rated excellent. Four percent of the corn climbed into the good to excellent category.

Missouri statewide topsoil moisture continued to improve, increasing 5 points in the adequate category to 25 percent very short, 39 percent short, 34 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.  Corn condition was 15 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 36 percent good, and 7 percent excellent, increasing 4 points in the very poor and poor categories.  Soybean condition was 9 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 37 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. The southwest district was 76 percent poor and very poor, improving 15 points from last week.  Ten percent of the corn dropped out of the good to excellent rating.

Nebraska corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 15 fair, 58 good, and 21 excellent. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 18 fair, 57 good, and 21 excellent, near 77 percent good to excellent last year and above 68 average.  Topsoil was 66% adequate and 29% short.  Only one percent of corn fell out of the top range. 

Ohio topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 28 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.  Eighty percent of corn was in fair-to-good condition, up three percent from last week. Eighty-two percent of soybeans were in fair-to-good condition, up one percent from last week. Five percent of the corn rose into the fair to good category.

South Dakota soil moisture is 73% adequate and 2% surplus.  Corn is 78% good to excellent and 17% fair.  Soybeans are 79% good to excellent and 17% in fair condition.  Corn ratings remained constant from last week.

Wisconsin corn was reported 79 percent is in good to excellent condition and the soybean crop is rated 81 percent in good to excellent condition and soil moisture is rated 72% adequate and 12% surplus.

North Dakota data was not available.

Summary:
The bottom line is significant decreases in the quality of the corn crop and modest declines in the quality of the soybean crop across the majority of the Cornbelt.  Northern tier states which had cooler and wetter weather generally saw improvements in the quality of the crops.

Source: FarmgateBlog.com

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