Corn condition, which is already at a six-year low, dropped last week, according to USDA NASS’ latest Crop Progress report released Monday.

NASS estimated that, as of Sunday, Sept. 8, the U.S. corn crop was 55% in good-to-excellent condition, down 3 percentage points from 58% the previous week. That’s 13 percentage points below last year’s good-to-excellent rating at this time of year of 68% and is the lowest rating since 2013, according to DTN Senior Analyst Dana Mantini.

Corn’s poor-to-very-poor condition rating category gained 1 percentage last week to reach 14% as of Sunday. That compares to a poor-to-very-poor rating of 12% at the same time last year.

“States with the worst good-to-excellent condition ratings are Illinois at 38% and Indiana and Ohio at 33%,” Mantini said. “Nebraska and Tennessee remain the best-rated at 73% and 82% good to excellent, respectively.”

Corn development remained behind the average pace last week. Nationwide, corn in the dough stage was estimated at 89%, 8 percentage points behind the five-year average of 97%. Corn dented was 55%, 22 percentage points behind the five-year average of 77%. That was further behind normal than in last week’s report, when corn dented was running 19 percentage points behind average.

“Denting is especially slow in Indiana at 43%, Michigan at 26%, Minnesota at 42%, North Dakota at 25%, South Dakota at 35% and Wisconsin at just 31%,” Mantini said.

Corn mature increased only 5 percentage points last week to reach 11% as of Sunday, 13 percentage points behind the five-year average of 24%.

While corn condition declined last week, the condition of the nation’s soybean crop remained unchanged for the second week in a row with a good-to-excellent rating of 55%. But, as with corn, that is still the lowest good-to-excellent rating since 2013.

Soybeans setting pods reached 92% as of Sunday, 7 percentage points behind the average of 99%. That was slightly closer to average than in last Monday’s report when soybeans setting pods was 10 percentage points behind the average pace.

Spring wheat harvest continued its stead pace last week, moving ahead another 16 percentage points from the previous week to reach 71% as of Sunday. However, that’s still 16 points behind the five-year average of 87% at this time of year.

Sorghum heading reached 97% as of Sunday, near the five-year average of 98%. Sorghum coloring was estimated at 65%, behind the average of 74%. Sorghum mature was estimated at 27%, behind the average of 37%. Sorghum harvested was estimated at 22%, slightly behind the five-year average of 24%. Barley harvested reached 82%, behind the average of 92%. Oats were 89% harvested, also behind the average of 95%.

Cotton bolls opening was estimated at 43%, ahead of the average of 37%. Cotton harvested was estimated at 7%, near the five-year average of 6%. Cotton condition — for the portion of the crop still in fields — was rated 43% good to excellent, down 5 percentage points from last week’s 48% good-to-excellent rating. Rice harvested was 30%, 7 percentage points behind the average of 37%.

To view weekly crop progress reports issued by National Ag Statistics Service offices in individual states, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/…. Look for the U.S. map in the “Find Data and Reports by” section and choose the state you wish to view in the drop-down menu. Then look for that state’s “Crop Progress & Condition” report.

National Crop Progress Summary
This Last Last 5-Year
Week Week Year Avg.
Corn Dough 89 81 99 97
Corn Dented 55 41 84 77
Corn Mature 11 6 33 24
Soybeans Setting Pods 92 86 100 99
Spring Wheat Harvested 71 55 92 87
Cotton Bolls Opening 43 36 38 37
Cotton Harvested 7 NA 9 6
Sorghum Headed 97 92 99 98
Sorghum Coloring 65 52 78 74
Sorghum Mature 27 24 33 37
Sorghum Harvested 22 21 24 24
Barley Harvested 82 72 91 92
Oats Harvested 89 84 96 95
Rice Harvested 30 21 39 37

**

National Crop Condition Summary
(VP = Very Poor; P = Poor; F = Fair; G = Good; E = Excellent)
This Week Last Week Last Year
VP P F G E VP P F G E VP P F G E
Corn 4 10 31 45 10 3 10 29 47 11 4 8 20 47 21
Soybeans 3 9 33 45 10 3 10 32 46 9 3 7 22 50 18
Cotton 3 15 39 37 6 1 14 37 39 9 13 21 28 29 9
Sorghum 1 5 26 53 15 1 5 27 53 14 5 12 30 42 11
Rice 1 5 25 46 23 1 4 25 47 23 3 22 59 16

**

National Soil Moisture Condition – 48 States
(VS = Very Short; SH = Short; AD = Adequate; SR = Surplus)
This Week Last Week Last Year
VS SH AD SR VS SH AD SR VS SH AD SR
Topsoil Moisture 10 23 61 6 9 22 62 7 9 19 58 14
Subsoil Moisture 8 22 64 6 7 22 65 6 10 23 58 9

Anthony Greder can be reached at anthony.greder@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @AGrederDTN

Source: Anthony Greder, DTN