Jun 09, 2020
2020 U.S. Crop Conditions Improve with Warmer Temperatures
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Corn - The condition of the 2020 U.S. corn crop improved 1% last week to 75% rated good to excellent. Ten states indicated that the corn condition improved last week, 6 states indicated that the corn condition declined last week, and 2 states were unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the central and northern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the southern areas. The top five rated corn states are: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa. The five lowest rated corn states are: Colorado, North Carolina, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio.
The warmer weather last week was beneficial for the most part for the early development of the corn. There is more rain forecasted this week for the central Corn Belt, which should also be beneficial as long as it is not excessive.
Soybeans - The condition of the 2020 U.S. soybean crop improved 2% last week to 72% rated good to excellent. Thirteen states indicated the soybean condition improved last week and 5 states indicated the soybean condition declined last week. Most of the improvements were found in the central and northern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the eastern and western Corn Belt. The top five rated soybean states are: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. The five lowest rated soybean states are: Missouri, Ohio, Mississippi, Illinois, and a tie between Kansas and North Carolina.
The warmer and dryer conditions last week allowed for rapid planting and emergence which continue ahead of average.
Soil Moisture - The nation's topsoil got dryer last week with 2 states reporting wetter conditions and 16 states reporting dryer conditions. The wetter conditions were only found in Louisiana and Mississippi while the dryer conditions were found across the Corn Belt. The five states with the highest soil moisture are: Missouri, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Dakota, and North Carolina. The five states with the driest soils are: Indiana, Nebraska, Illinois, Louisiana, and a tie between Minnesota and North Dakota.
The soil moisture is now essentially the same as the long term average. The forecast for this week is calling for significant rainfall across the Delta, the mid-South, and the central Corn Belt. The moisture is needed the most across parts of the western Corn Belt, which has been in a dryer trend in recent weeks.