Aug 22, 2017
U.S. Corn Condition Unchanged, Soybeans Improve Slightly
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Corn - The condition of the 2017 U.S. corn crop held steady last week at 62% rated good to excellent. Twelve states indicated that the corn condition had improved last week and 5 states indicated that the corn condition had declined last week with 1 state unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the western and northern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the central Corn Belt. The top five rated corn states are: Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Minnesota, and a tie between Colorado and Kentucky. The five lowest rated corn states are: South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana, Illinois, and a tie between Kansas and Michigan.
The recent rains are coming a little late to improve the corn crop. Instead they are helping to stabilize the crop conditions.
Soybeans - The condition of the 2017 U.S. soybean crop improved 1% last week to 60% rated good to excellent. Eight states indicated that the soybean condition had improved last week while 8 states indicated that the soybean condition had declined last week and 2 states were unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the western and northern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the central and southern Corn Belt. The top five rated soybean states are: Tennessee, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Minnesota. The five lowest rated soybean states are: South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana, Iowa, and Kansas.
Soybeans respond to late season moisture and that is exactly what they received especially in the western Corn Belt. The rainfall in the eastern Corn Belt was generally disappointing especially in Illinois.
Soil Moisture - The nation's soil moisture improved slightly last week with 9 states indicating improved soil moisture while 9 states indicating lower soil moisture. Most of the improvements were found in the western and northern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the central and southern Corn Belt. The five states with the highest soil moisture are: Louisiana, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Arkansas. The five states with the lowest soil moisture are: South Dakota, Iowa, North Dakota, Illinois, and Michigan.
As expected, the nation's soil moisture improved for the third week in a row especially in the western and northwestern Corn Belt. South Dakota remains the driest state with 52% of the soil rated short to very short on moisture followed by Iowa at 50% short, North Dakota 50% short, Illinois 50% short, and Michigan 47% short.