JOHN PERKINS
Brownfield Ag Network
The USDA’s crop condition rating changes were mixed over the past week. Weather was mixed in many key U.S. growing areas, ranging from hot and dry, to cold and wet, to nearly ideal, even varying widely during the course of the week in parts of the region.
The USDA says 71% of U.S. corn is good to excellent, 1% below a week ago, with 97% silking, 72% at the dough making stage, 27% dented, and 3% mature, all very close to their respective five-year averages.
68% of soybeans are called good to excellent, unchanged, 95% are blooming and 82% are at the pod setting stage, matching their averages.
94% of winter wheat is harvested, compared to 95% normally in mid-August.
50% of spring wheat is in good to excellent shape, up 1%, and 36% is harvested, in-line with most years.
55% of cotton is reported as good to excellent, 2% higher, and 97% of the crop is squaring, 73% are setting bolls, and 13% of bolls are opening.
75% of rice is in good to excellent condition, down 1%, with 92% headed and 17% harvested, just ahead of the typical rates.
63% of sorghum is good to excellent, a decline of 3%, and 78% of the crop has headed, with 34% coloring and 18% mature.
39% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are rated good to excellent, steady with the previous week.
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