Jul 21, 2020
2020 U.S. Corn Condition Steady, Soybeans Improve 1%
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Corn - The condition of the 2020 U.S. corn crop held steady last week at 69% rated good to excellent. Eight states indicated that the corn condition improved last week, 8 states indicted that the corn condition declined last week and 2 were unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the eastern and western areas while most of the declines were found in the central areas. The five highest rated corn states are: Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Kentucky, and Iowa. The five lowest rated corn states are: Colorado, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, and Kansas.
The rainfall last week and over the weekend was generally beneficial across much of the Corn Belt. The state that probably benefited the most was Illinois. Some of the northern states that received rain such as Minnesota, eastern Iowa, and Wisconsin were already doing fairly well. The corn is now 59% silking.
Soybeans - The condition of the 2020 U.S. soybean crop improved 1% last week to 69% rated good to excellent. Nine states indicated that the soybean condition improved last week, 8 states indicated that the soybean condition declined last week and 1 was unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the eastern and western areas while most of the declines were found in the central and southern areas. The five highest rated soybean states are: Wisconsin, Louisiana, Minnesota, South Dakota and a tie between Iowa and Kentucky. The five lowest rated soybean states are: North Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Indiana, and a tie between Kansas and Michigan.
The soybeans seem to be doing a little better than the corn. The soybeans are now 25% setting pods, so the rainfall over the past week came just as the crop is entering its critical reproductive phase.
Soil Moisture - The nation's soil moisture improved last week with 8 states indicating improved soil moisture and 10 states indicating dryer soil moisture. Most of the improved soil moisture was found in the central areas while most of the dryer soil moisture was found in the western areas. The five states with the best soil moisture are: Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, and South Dakota. The five states with the lowest soil moisture are: Ohio, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Kansas.
The rainfall over the past several weeks has turned out better than what had been forecasted. Areas that still need the most rain include Ohio, Indiana and parts of western Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.