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US crop ratings rise again
Mid-week reports out the US Midwest show some limited signs of improvement, particularly in Iowa and Illinois, where crops continue to slowly recover from heavy rains last month. Corn in Iowa still tends to be little more than half of normal height at this time of year, and some fields in southern Illinois are still in standing water.
July 9, 2008 By The Corn and Soybean Digest
July 9, 2008
U.S. corn and soybean conditions improved further last week as crops in the top producing states of Iowa and Illinois continued to slowly recover from heavy early June rains and flooding.
USDA rated the U.S. corn crop 62% good/excellent as of July 6, up from 61% a week earlier, but below the 70% rating of a year earlier.
Soybean crop conditions were rated 59% good/excellent, up from 58% a week earlier, but down from 65% a year earlier.
Crop development remained well behind normal, with USDA reporting that only 6% of the U.S. corn crop was silking compared with a five-year average of 19%.
Some 12% of the U.S. soybean crop was said to be blooming, compared with an average of 26%.
In the top corn and producing state of Iowa, corn conditions improved to 57% good/excellent from 53% a week earlier, while soybean conditions were put at 57%, up from 56% previously.
Iowa corn height averaged 36 in., 25 in. behind last year and 19 in. behind the five-year average.
No Iowa corn was reported silking, while 15% of the state’s soybean crop was blooming, well behind the five-year average of 32%.
According to the Iowa office of the National Statistics Service, as of July 6, 12% of Iowa corn and 13% of Iowa soybeans had been or would be replanted. Areas requiring replanting have either already been replanted or will most likely not dry in time to be planted this season.
In the second largest producing state of Illinois, corn conditions were rated 63% good/excellent, up from 57% a week earlier, while soybean conditions were rated 56% good/excellent, up from 52% previously.
Illinois corn height was put at an average of 47 in., compared with a five-year average of 63% inches.
Only 1% of Illinois corn was silking as of Sunday against an average of 36%, while only 11% of the state’s soybean crop was blooming against an average of 31%.
Drier weather allowed producers to finish up late planting across most of Illinois, but Rain in the southern part of the state brought more standing water to already soaked fields.
