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Crops Continue to Progress Well Ahead of Average

August 16, 2016

 

Crop ProgressNational crop condition ratings for both corn and soybean crops were steady in the past week and remain above a year ago, but ratings for individual states, and regions within those states, vary widely.

According to USDA’s Crop Progress report for Aug. 15, 74% of corn acres are in “good” (53%) or “excellent” (21%) condition through this past Sunday. This compares with 74% the previous week and 69% last year at this time.

Nearly three quarters (73%) of corn is currently in the dough stage vs. 53% last week and 65% a year ago. The 5-year average for this date is 60%. Meanwhile, 21% of U.S. corn acres are in the “dented” stage, which is on pace with the 5-year average and 3% ahead of last year’s crop.

The condition of the soybean crop is rated as 72% “good” (55%) or “excellent” (17%). This is the same as condition from the previous week. Last year on this date, only 63% of the soybean crop was rated as “good” (49%) or “excellent” (14%).

With 95% of soybeans “blooming,” this year’s crop is up from the 92% a year ago and up slightly on the 5-year average of 93%. Soybean acres “setting pods” are estimated to be 80% vs. 69% the previous week, 76% a year earlier and the 5-year average of 75%.