USDA?s recent Crop Progress Report showed a slight decline in crop conditions in major Midwest states.
Allendale?s summary of current crop conditions came out Monday. The report found corn in the United States 64% good to excellent, a one-percent decline from last week?s report. Soybeans also fell one-percent, to 61% good to excellent. Findings for both corn and soybeans met the average trade estimate.
Spring wheat ranked 34% good to excellent, and winter wheat came in 75% harvested. These numbers were also in line with average trade estimates.
The USDA Field Office for Iowa summarized the state as:
Thirty-seven percent of Iowa?s corn crop reached the silking stage, five days behind last year and two days behind the five-year average. Corn conditions deteriorated slightly to one-percent very poor, five-percent poor, 23% fair, 58% good and 13% excellent. A little over half of the soybean crop reached the blooming phase, with 11% of soybeans having set pods, which is equal to the average.
Soybean condition also fell to two-percent very poor, eight-percent poor, 27% fair, 54% good and nine-percent excellent. Virtually, all of the oat crop has headed, with 79% turning color or beyond, five days behind last year. Eighteen percent of oats for grain or seed have been harvested, six days behind last year and the average. Oat condition rated 72% good to excellent. Crops were described to be suffering from heat stress and lack of moisture across much of the state.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 76% complete, eight days ahead of the average. Hay condition rated 64% good to excellent. Scattered reports of third cutting of alfalfa were received. Pasture condition continued to decline with 46% good to excellent. High temperatures and humidity were reported to have caused heat stress to livestock.
