Crop Progress: Corn, Soybean Conditions Favor A Strong Finish

In their Monday Crop Progress Report, USDA indicated crop conditions remain favorable throughout most of farm country.

The corn crop continues to move along at a brisk pace with 44% of the crop in the dent stage. It’s a healthy-looking corn crop too, 68% of the nation’s corn is rated good to excellent. Nebraska is the garden spot of the week, with 84% of the corn there rated good to excellent. Ohio’s not far behind it with 77% of the corn rated good to excellent. Missouri’s corn is struggling the most with just 28% of the crop is rated good to excellent.

Soybeans welcomed timely rains throughout much of farm country last week which helped the crop maintain impeccable crop conditions ratings. According to USDA, 65% of the crop is rated good to excellent. Nebraska soybeans also boast the best conditions rating with 81% of the soybeans are rated good to excellent. Missouri soybeans continue to struggle, with just 34% of the crop rated good to excellent.

Across the Corn Belt, soybeans continue to mature a week to 10 days ahead of schedule. Soybeans across the country are done setting pods, 91%, and are in the fill stage. Timely rains are needed in many parts of Farm Country to help the crop finish strong.

In Iowa, farmers are looking at the possibility of an early harvest, according to Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

“Crops progress remains well ahead of average and we are looking at a potentially early harvest if conditions continue to cooperate,” Naig said in a statement following the release of USDA’s Crop Progress report. “Many parts of the state are welcoming the recent rain showers as they have come during a critically important time in soybean development and should help boost yields.”