Aug 04, 2020
2020 U.S. Corn Condition Unchanged, Soybeans up 1% to 73% G/Ex
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Corn - The condition of the 2020 U.S. corn crop held steady last week at 72% rated good to excellent. Eight states indicated that the corn condition improved last week, 9 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 northern and southern areas. The top five rated corn states are: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky, South Dakota, and Nebraska. The five lowest rated corn states are: Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Ohio.
Beneficial rains fell over the weekend across many of the dryer areas of the eastern Corn Belt. The western half of Iowa unfortunately missed out on the rains, but the cooler temperatures this week should limit the moisture stress in areas that missed out on the recent rains.
Soybeans - The condition of the 2020 U.S. soybean crop improved 1% last week and it is now rated 73% 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 was unchanged. Most of the improvements were found across the Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the central and northern areas. The top five rated soybean states are: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Louisiana, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The five lowest rated soybean states are: North Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Michigan.
Weekend rains also benefited the dryer soybeans in the eastern Corn Belt and the soybeans are now rated 73% good to excellent going into the critical month of August.
Soil Moisture - The nation's topsoil moisture improved last week with 10 states indicating improved moisture while 8 states indicated lower soil moisture. Most of the improvements were found in the eastern and western areas while most of the declines were found in the northern Corn Belt. The five states with the best soil moisture are: Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana, and Kentucky. The five states with the lowest soil moisture are: Iowa, North Carolina, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Nebraska.
Recent rains have improved the soil moisture in some of the previously dry areas of the eastern Corn Belt. Continued dryness though remains a concern in the western half of Iowa. The near term forecast is for a cool and generally dry week across the northwestern Corn Belt. A short period of cool and dry weather is not a major concern, but the region will need additional moisture as soon as the temperatures warm up once again.