Crop ratings for corn continued their slow slide in today’s Crop Progress report from USDA. As of Sunday, 13% of the crop rated excellent nationally, equal with last week, and 38% rated good, down one point from last week’s report. Soybean ratings held steady, with a one-point shift upward from good to excellent compared with last week.

Spring wheat didn’t fare quite that well over the past week. Condition ratings for the crop lost three points in the good and excellent categories, leaving 64% of the crop rated that well. Harvest of the crop is complete on 42% of acres, steady progress from last week when 23% had been harvested. Normally 42% of the crop would be in the bin by now.

Winter wheat harvest is right on schedule with the five-year average pace, at 96% of completion. Idaho growers have 58% of their crop harvested, Montana 90%, Oregon 88% and Washington 66%. Harvest activities are complete in the rest of the 18 major winter wheat producing states.

Rains brought relief to Illinois farmers over the past week with totals averaging about 1 1/2 inches, which improved topsoil moisture ratings to 49% very short, 40% short, and 11% adequate. The state’s agricultural statistics office says soybeans will benefit, but corn growers are indicating it is too late for the vast majority of their crop.

“Lower leaves are bleached and ears are beginning to dry and hang down on corn in some central and southern areas,” the state office said in its weekly crop and weather report Monday.

In Illinois, corn condition ratings were 60% very poor to poor, 30% fair, and just 10% good to excellent. Soybean crop conditions were 39% very poor to poor, 41% fair, and 20% good to excellent. Soybeans are setting pods on 90% of acres in the state.

Read the Crop Progress Report on the USDA site

From Agriculture Online