Jul 18, 2017
U.S. Crop Conditions Decline, Especially in the Western Corn Belt
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Corn - The condition of the 2017 U.S. corn crop declined 1% last week to 64% rated good to excellent. Nine states indicated that the corn condition had improved last week and 9 states indicated that the corn condition had declined last week. Most of the improvements were found in the eastern and southern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the western and northern Corn Belt. The top five rated corn states are: Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Minnesota. The five lowest rated corn states are: South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, and Colorado.
Corn conditions declined in the western Corn Belt due to the hot and generally dry conditions experienced last week.
Soybeans - The condition of the 2017 U.S. soybean crop declined 1% last week to 61% rated good to excellent. Eight states indicated that the soybean condition had improved last week while 10 states indicated that the soybean condition had declined last week. Most of the improvements were found in eastern and southern locations while most of the declines were found on the western and northern Corn Belt. The top five rated soybean states are: Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and a tie between Arkansas and Kentucky. The five lowest rated soybean states are: South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, and Nebraska.
The soybean crop is being impacted by adverse conditions on both ends of the Corn Belt but for different reasons. In the western Corn Belt it is too dry, whereas in the eastern Corn Belt it is too wet.
Soil Moisture - The nation's soil moisture got dryer last week with 6 states indicating improved soil moisture while 12 states indicating lower soil moisture. Most of the improvements were found in the eastern Corn Belt while most of the declines were found in the central and western Corn Belt. The five states with the highest soil moisture are: Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Louisiana, and Tennessee. The five states with the lowest soil moisture are: South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and a tie between Illinois and Kansas.
The topsoil in South Dakota is rated 85% short to very short with North Dakota and Nebraska rated 65% short and Iowa rated 51% short. The conditions are just the opposite in the eastern Corn Belt with Ohio is rated 0% short to very short and Indiana is rated 7% short to very short.