Crop Conditions Decline, Corn Maturity Delayed

The latest Crop Progress report from USDA-NASS shows declining conditions for corn and soybean crops, and delayed corn maturity.

The Illinois corn rating dropped to 52% good-to-excellent, down two points from last week. Indiana, Iowa and Ohio had one point declines. Drought-stricken South Dakota is reporting a four point improvement in corn conditions. This week 46% is good-excellent. Nebraska had a four point gain with 65% good-excellent. The national corn rating was unchanged from last week with 62% good-excellent.

Overall 61% of the nation's soybean crop is rated good to excellent, up one point from last week. The South Dakota soybean crop showed a seven point improvement, 49% is rated good to excellent.

Six percent of the corn crop is at the mature stage. That's four points behind the five year average of 10%. The report echoes what Farm Journal Midwest Crop Tour Scouts saw in terms of delayed maturity in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa. The Illinois corn crop is only 2% mature. The average maturity for this week from 2012-2016 is 14%. Similarly, corn in Indiana and Iowa is typically 7% mature at this point and is only 3% and 1% mature respectively.
 

Wes Mills contributed to this story.