News

62% of U.S. corn, 57% of soybeans rated good to excellent

The USDA’s national corn and soybean condition ratings declined last week. The good to excellent ratings showed the continued impact of hot, dry weather in some key growing areas, along with too much rain in parts of the eastern Midwest. Except for the drought stricken 2012 crop, these are the lowest corn and soybean ratings for this time of year in a decade.

62% of U.S. corn is in good to excellent shape, down 2% on the week. 67% of corn is silking and 8% has reached the dough making stage, both slower than their respective five year averages.

57% of U.S. beans are called good to excellent, 4% below a week ago. 69% of soybeans are blooming and 29% are at the pod setting stage, a little quicker than normal.

33% of spring wheat is rated good to excellent, with another 40% called poor to very poor because of drought or near drought conditions in the northern U.S. Plains.

84% of winter wheat is harvested, compared to 80% on average.

46% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are in good to excellent condition, 6% lower than last week.