Sep 18, 2018
U.S. Corn Condition Steady, Soybeans Decline 1%
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Corn - The condition of the 2018 U.S. corn crop was unchanged last week at 68% rated good to excellent. Nine states indicated that the corn condition improved last week, 8 states indicated that the corn condition declined last week, and 1 state was unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the western Corn Belt, while most of the declines were found in the eastern Corn Belt. The top five rated corn states are: Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The five lowest rated corn states are: Missouri, Texas, North Carolina, Kansas, and Michigan.
Soybeans - The condition of the 2018 U.S. soybean crop declined 1% last week to 67% rated good to excellent. Twelve states indicated that the soybean condition improved last week, 5 states indicated that the soybean condition declined last week, and 1 state was unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the western Corn Belt, while most of the declines were found in the central and eastern Corn Belt and the Delta. The top five rated soybean states are: Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Kentucky. The five lowest rated soybean states are: Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, North Carolina, and a tie between Kansas and South Dakota.
Soil Moisture - The nation's soil moisture declined last week with 3 states indicating improved soil moisture and 15 states indicating declining soil moisture. The improvements were found in Louisiana, North Carolina, and North Dakota, while most of the declines were found across the Corn Belt. The five states with the best soil moisture are: North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana. The five states with the driest soils are: Mississippi, Tennessee, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Missouri.
After four weeks of improving soil moisture, the moisture declined last week. The soil moisture improved from mid-August until early September, which was very good for grain filling and pod filling. Now that it is declining, that is good for dry down and early harvest. Seems like a very good combination - wet when the crops need it and dryer when they are maturing.