Ideal weather for corn pollination continues to improve corn crop rating this week. Farmers in the western Corn Belt are more positive about their crops than those in the wetter eastern Corn Belt. The pollination window begins to close as corn maturation continues on schedule. Soybean conditions remain positive, but many farmers remain concerned about the potential for disease due to the heavy rains earlier in the season. The winter wheat harvest is nearly complete. Reports have suggested the quality of the winter wheat crop was damaged by the late season rain that delayed the harvest.
The USDA estimated corn crop conditions in the U.S. as of July 26th, at 70% as “Excellent” or “Good,” a 1% increase from last week, but a 5% decrease from last year. 21% of the crop was reported as “Fair,” a 1% increase from last week, but a 2% increase from last year. 9% was rated as “Poor” or “Very Poor,” unchanged from last week.
Corn silking was reported at 78% silked, a 23% increase from last week and a 1% increase from the five-year average. Of the five largest corn producing states, Illinois reported the most silked at 89%, followed by Iowa and Nebraska both at 83%. Fewer rain showers in July and increased temperatures and sunlight improved the growing conditions across the Corn Belt during the month.
Corn doughing was estimated for the first time this week by the USDA. 14% of the corn is doughing, a 1% decrease from last year and a 3% decrease from the five-year average. Of the five largest corn producing states, Illinois reported the most doughing at 32%, Iowa and Nebraska both reported 11%.
Soybean blooming was reported at 71%, a 15% increase from last week, but a 1% decrease from the five-year average. Of the five largest soybean producing states, Minnesota reported the most at 90%, followed by Iowa at 78% and Nebraska at 77%.
The USDA estimated soybean setting pods at 34%, a 17% increase from last week and a 3% increase from the five-year average. Of the five largest soybean growing states, Minnesota reported the most at 44%, followed by Iowa at 37%, and Indiana at 36%. The excessive rains this year have increased farmers’ concerns over the potential for disease impacting soybean yields this year.
The USDA estimated soybean crop conditions at 62% “Excellent” or “Good,” unchanged from last week, but a 9% decrease from last year. 27% of the crop was rated as “Fair,” unchanged from last week, while 11% of the crop was rated as “Poor” or “Very Poor,” unchanged from last week.
Winter wheat harvested was reported at 85%, a 10% increase from last week and 5% ahead of the five-year average. Elevators continue to report that the quality of the winter wheat crop is well below average. Late season rain in the Wheat Belt kept farmers out of their fields, allowing the winter wheat to sprout prior to harvest.
Spring wheat conditions were reported at 71% “Excellent” or “Good,” a 1% increase from last week and 1% ahead of the five-year average. 22% was rated “Fair,” a 1% decrease from last week, and only 7% was rated “Poor” or “Very Poor.”
Spring wheat harvested was reported for the first time this week. The USDA estimated 2% harvested, a 1% increase from last year, but 3% behind the five-year average.
September futures for corn closed the week at $3.73 per bushel, a 7.9% decrease from last week. September soybeans ended the week at $9.39, a 5.9% decrease from last week, and September wheat ended the week at $5.02, a 5.6% decrease from last week. Year-to-year corn prices are up 1.6%, soybeans are down 17.4%, and wheat is down 6.0%.
The data for this report was taken from the July 27, 2015 USDA Crop Progress report for the week ending July 26, 2015. The information reported is based on a survey of approximately 4,000 agriculture professionals making subjective estimates of the progress of crops in their area. The data is compiled by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.