The USDA’s good to excellent rating on corn held steady last week as soybeans declined slightly. Weather continues to be mixed across the Midwest and Plains, with a mostly hot, dry pattern in some key growing areas balanced out by nearly ideal conditions in others.
As of Sunday, 64% of U.S. corn is rated good to excellent, unchanged on the week, with 37% of the crop silking, compared to the five-year average of 48%, and 6% at the dough making stage, compared to 7% on average.
61% of soybeans are in good to excellent shape, 1% less than last week, with 48% blooming, compared to 55% normally in mid-July, and 14% at the pod setting stage, compared to 19% on average.
70% of winter wheat is harvested, compared to the usual rate of 71%.
71% of spring wheat is called good to excellent, up 1%, but just 68% of the crop has headed, compared to 90% on average.
38% of the cotton crop is reported as good to excellent, down 1%, with 74% squaring, compared to 70% on average, and 31% setting bolls, compared to the five-year average of 27%.
72% of rice falls into the good to excellent category, a drop of 5%, and 28% has headed, compared to the typical pace of 31%.
26% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are in good to excellent condition, 3% below a week ago.
