Aug 22, 2023
U.S. Corn Down 1% to 58% GD/EX, Soybeans Unchanged at 59%
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Corn - The condition of the 2023 U.S. corn crop declined 1% to 58% rated good/excellent. Five states indicated improved conditions last week and 13 states indicated lower conditions last week. Most of the improvements were found in the northern locations while most of the declines were found across the Midwest. The top five rated corn states are: Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The five lowest rates corn states are: Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
The high temperatures this week could negatively impact late developing corn that is starting to fill grain. The forecasted high temperatures could speed up corn maturation resulting in tip-back where the last several inches of the ear is devoid of kernels and lighter kernel weights.
Soybeans - The condition of the 2023 U.S. corn crop held steady at 59% rated good/excellent. Seven states indicated improved conditions last week and 11 states indicated lower conditions last week. Most of the improvements were found in the northern and eastern areas while most of the declines were found in the central and western areas. The top five rated soybean states are: Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio. The five lowest rates soybean states are: Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Minnesota.
Soybeans are sensitive to high temperatures during pod fill especially if they are accompanied by dry conditions. In the dryer areas, the hot and dry conditions forecasted for this week could result in flower and pod abortion and smaller seed size.
Soil Moisture - The nation's topsoil moisture declined last week with 4 states indicating improved soil moisture, 13 states indicating lower soil moisture, and 1 unchanged. Most of the improvements were found in the northern areas while most of the declines were found across the Midwest. The five states with the highest soil moisture are: Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. The five states with the lowest soil moisture are: Louisiana, Minnesota, Kansas, Mississippi, and Nebraska.
The topsoil moisture declined this week and it is expected to decline again this week with the onset of extremely high temperatures, especially in the western Corn Belt. The areas most at risk from dry conditions are parts of Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa.