Sep 19, 2017
U.S. Corn Condition holds Steady, Soybeans down Slightly
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Corn - The condition of the 2017 U.S. corn crop held steady last week at 61% rated good to excellent. Eight states indicated that the corn condition had improved last week and 7 states indicated that the corn condition had declined last week with 3 states unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the western and eastern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the central Corn Belt. The top five rated corn states are: Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Texas. The five lowest rated corn states are: South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois.
Soybeans - The condition of the 2017 U.S. soybean crop declined 1% last week to 59% rated good to excellent. Ten states indicated that the soybean condition had improved last week while 6 states indicated that the soybean condition had declined last week with 2 states unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the western and eastern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the central Corn Belt. The top five rated soybean states are: Tennessee, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Mississippi, and North Carolina. The five lowest rated soybean states are: South Dakota, Kansas, North Dakota, Illinois, and a tie between Indiana and Michigan.
Soil Moisture - The nation's soil moisture declined last week with 6 states indicating improved soil moisture while 12 states indicating lower soil moisture. Most of the improvements were found in the southern and northwestern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the central and eastern Corn Belt. The five states with the highest soil moisture are: Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The five states with the lowest soil moisture are: Illinois, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa, and South Dakota.
With the warmer temperatures and limited rainfall, the soil moisture across the country declined for the second straight week and it is now dryer than the long term average. Any improvement in soil moisture from this point forward would have limited benefit.
The state of Illinois is now the driest state rated 75% short to very short followed by Michigan at 61% short, Kansas at 58% short, Iowa at 51% short, and South Dakota at 48% short.