Jul 28, 2020
2020 U.S. Corn and Soy Crops Improve 3% to 72% Good to Excellent
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Corn - The condition of the 2020 U.S. corn crop improved 3% last week to 72% 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 was unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the eastern and western areas, while most of the declines were found in the southern and northern areas. The top five rated corn states are: Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Kentucky, and Nebraska. The five lowest rated corn states are: Colorado, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kansas.
The corn is now 82% silked and the weather during pollination has not been very threatening. The areas of most concern for the corn is dryness in western Iowa and the far eastern Corn Belt.
Soybeans - The condition of the 2020 U.S. soybean crop improved 3% last week to 72% rated good to excellent. Twelve states indicated that the soybean condition improved last week, 5 states indicated that the corn 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 southern and northern areas. The top five rated soybean states are: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Nebraska. The five lowest rated soybean states are: North Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Michigan.
The critical time for the soybean crop will be the next 3-4 weeks as the crop fills pods. The weather does not look very threatening outside of some dryness in the eastern Corn Belt and western Iowa.
Soil Moisture - The nation's soil moisture improved last week with 12 states indicating higher soil moisture and 6 states indicating lower soil moisture. Most of the improved soil moisture was found in the eastern and western areas while most of the lower soil moisture was found in the southern and northern areas. The five states with the highest soil moisture are: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, North Dakota, and Louisiana. The five states with the lowest soil moisture are: Ohio, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, and a three-way tie between Arkansas, Iowa, and Mississippi.
The soil moisture is now slightly better than the long term average with the best soil moisture in the northwestern Corn Belt and the lowest soil moisture in the eastern Corn Belt.