Corn condition improved just 1 percentage point last week, while soybean condition remained unchanged. Development of both crops continue to be well behind normal.

As of Sunday, Sept. 1, the U.S. corn crop was rated 58% in good-to-excellent condition, up 1 percentage point from 57% the previous week. That is the lowest good-to-excellent condition for this time of year since 2013, noted DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman.

Corn’s current condition rating is 10 percentage points behind last year’s good-to-excellent condition of 67%.

Corn development continues to lag behind the average pace. Nationwide, corn in the dough stage was estimated at 81%, up 10 percentage points from 71% the previous week but 12 percentage points behind the five-year average of 93%.

Corn dented was 41%, up 14 percentage points from the previous week, but far behind last year’s 73% and 19 percentage points behind the five-year average of 63%.

“Denting is especially slow in Indiana at 26%, Michigan at 14%, Minnesota at 25%, North Dakota at 8% and at 18% each for South Dakota and Wisconsin,” Hultman said.

Corn mature was pegged at 6%, 14 percentage points behind last year and well below the five-year average of 13%.

Soybean condition was left unchanged with a good-to-excellent rating of 55%. Like corn, that is the lowest rating since 2013.

“Missouri, plus Illinois to Ohio, continue to be states with high poor ratings,” Hultman said.

The portion of the soybean crop that was blooming was 96%, 2 percentage points higher than last Monday’s report. However, this time last year blooming was considered complete, and that coincides with the five-year average. Soybeans setting pods reached 86% as of Sunday, 10 percentage points behind the average pace of 96%.

Spring wheat harvest continued to pick up steam, jumping 17 percentage points from the previous week to reach 55% as of Sunday. Despite the big jump, that was still well behind last year’s 86% and 23 percentage points behind the five-year average of 78%.

“Montana has the most work left with only 46% of the crop in. North Dakota is a close second at 52% complete,” Hultman said.

Sorghum heading reached 92% as of Sunday, behind the five-year average of 95%. Sorghum coloring was estimated at 52%, behind the average of 64%. Sorghum mature was estimated at 24%, behind the average of 33%. Sorghum harvested was estimated at 21%, 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 22%. Oats were 84% harvested, behind the average of 91%.

Cotton setting bolls was 97%, near the five-year average of 96%. Cotton bolls opening was at 36%, ahead of the average of 27%. Cotton condition was rated 48% good to excellent, 7 percentage points higher than last year’s 41% good-to-excellent rating. Rice harvested was 21%, 6 percentage points behind the average of 27%.

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 81 71 95 93
Corn Dented 41 27 73 63
Corn Mature 6 – 20 13
Soybeans Blooming 96 94 100 100
Soybeans Setting Pods 86 79 98 96
Spring Wheat Harvested 55 38 86 78
Cotton Setting Bolls 97 90 95 96
Cotton Bolls Opening 36 28 28 27
Sorghum Headed 92 86 96 95
Sorghum Coloring 52 41 67 64
Sorghum Mature 24 22 30 33
Sorghum Harvested 21 20 22 22
Barley Harvested 72 54 83 83
Oats Harvested 84 75 93 91
Rice Harvested 21 15 29 27

**

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 3 10 29 47 11 3 10 30 47 10 4 8 21 46 21
Soybeans 3 10 32 46 9 3 10 32 46 9 3 8 23 49 17
Spring Wheat 2 6 25 58 9 1 5 25 60 9 1 4 21 63 11
Cotton 1 14 37 39 9 2 15 40 35 8 15 18 26 31 10
Sorghum 1 5 27 53 14 1 6 27 51 15 5 12 31 43 9
Rice 1 4 25 47 23 1 5 25 48 21 – 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 9 22 62 7 9 23 61 7 10 23 60 7
Subsoil Moisture 7 22 65 6 8 22 64 6 12 25 58 5

Brian Ethridge can be reached at [email protected]

Source: Brian Ethridge, DTN