The USDA weekly Crop Progress Report, released Monday, showed corn and soybean good-to-excellent ratings both falling from the previous week, though crop development for both remains ahead of last year’s pace. Cooler weather last week is giving way to renewed heat and continued dryness, with only scattered showers expected through early August, per DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

Corn

  • 63% rated good-to-excellent, down 4 points from last week and 10 points below last year (73%).
  • Silking at 78% (vs. 73% last year, 74% five-year average). Dough stage at 25% (vs. 24% last year, 22% five-year average).
  • Iowa posted a strong good-to-excellent rating at 80%, consistent with the prior week.

Soybeans

  • 63% rated good-to-excellent, down 3 points from last week and 7 points below last year (70%).
  • Ratings varied across the Plains, with Kansas at 64%, Nebraska at 61% and South Dakota at 52%.
  • Blooming at 80% (ahead of last year and the five-year average, both 74%). Pod-setting at 47% (ahead from last year and the five-year average, both 39%).

Winter Wheat

  • Harvest progressed to 81% complete across the top 18 states (vs. 74% last week and ahead of last year and the five-year average, both 79%).
  • Harvest is complete in five states, including Kansas and Oklahoma, with progress at 92% in Nebraska and 82% in South Dakota

Spring Wheat

  • Staying consistent with the previous week, 53% of the crop was rated good-to-excellent.
  • 92% headed (ahead 1% from last year, down 1% from the five-year average).
  • The first spring harvest report of the season showed that 2% has been harvested, with most activity in South Dakota and Washington.

Read more report commentary and a look at an upcoming forecast from DTN.