JOHN PERKINS
Brownfield Ag Network
The U.S. corn condition rating dipped a little over the past week, while soybeans held steady. That followed another week of generally favorable development weather in much of the Midwest and Plains, while forecasts for this week show the potential for a hotter, drier stretch in some western growing areas that could cause stress to developing crops.
The USDA says 67% of U.S. corn is good to excellent, down 1% on the week, with 61% of the crop silking and 17% at the dough making stage, both faster than the respective five-year averages.
68% of soybeans are good to excellent, steady, with 65% blooming and 29% at the pod setting stage, ahead of average.
76% of winter wheat is harvested, compared to 72% most years at this time.
77% of spring wheat is rated good to excellent, unchanged, with 89% headed, slightly slower than normal.
53% of cotton is in good to excellent condition, 8% higher than a week ago, with 81% squaring and 42% setting bolls, above average.
83% of rice is called good to excellent, up 3%, with 58% headed, compared to the usual pace of 36%.
60% of sorghum is in good to excellent shape, a gain of 3%, with 34% headed and 19% coloring, both just ahead of the five-year averages.
40% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are called good to excellent, 1% lower than last week.
The USDA’s weekly national crop progress and condition reports run through the end of November.
