Crop Conditions Deteriorate, USDA Corn Ratings Drop Across 'I States'

The quality of the corn crop nationwide slowed their decline in the latest USDA Crop Progress Report, but conditions in the top corn producing states slipped, with Iowa’s growing conditions down 7 points. That follows a week where corn growing conditions crumbled 14 points in just seven days.

USDA's weekly report released Monday shows nationally that 65% of the corn crop is rated good to excellent, down from 68% last week. That also compares to this time last year when 72% of the crop was in good to excellent shape. USDA’s latest crop condition tally also showed 6% of the crop nationally is in poor to very poor condition.

It isn’t just Iowa that saw impacts from the heat and dryness last week. Illinois’ growing conditions fell 4 points, to 64% rated as good to excellent. Indiana’s conditions fell 3 points in a week, and Minnesota’s crop tumbled 8 points in seven days. The latest ratings were as of Sunday, June 20, 2021.

It’s a battle for the worst corn crop growing conditions in the Dakotas. North Dakota farmers continue to see conditions struggle, with 39% of the crop in good to excellent shape, down 3 points from the week prior. Twenty percent of the crop in North Dakota is rated poor to very poor. But South Dakota’s corn crop is now rated lower than its northern counterpart, with the state’s crop sitting at 34% good to excellent, down 11 points from last week’s 45% good to excellent USDA rating.

Rains hit areas of the country this week, with Empire Weather tweeting out a past precipitation map showing Ohio saw the heaviest amounts.  

Now that its over, lets look at 72 hour rain, shall we? #s on maps are actual observed amounts, NOT estimates

S IA, E IA, northern 40% of MO, 75% of IL, 90% of IN, and western OH saw heaviest amounts of 0.50-3.00" with locally 5-8"

Short changed: W MN, NW IA, NE, Dakotas #oatt pic.twitter.com/nEKc4Wyq9p — Ed Vallee | Empire Weather LLC (@EdValleeWx) June 21, 2021

The rains were welcome in areas where crops were in desperate need of a drink. Jacob Birklid farms in North Dakota. He says his area received just over a half inch of rain, which will help crops in his area. 

Just under 0.8" in Fort Ransom, ND. Average a half inch of rain in the immediate area. Helping things out pic.twitter.com/dgID5TRs9j — Jacob Birklid (@JC_Birklid) June 21, 2021

The rain also came with strong winds in some areas. Pictures of corn blown over by the wind also circled social media Monday, with farmers from Missouri to Illinois reporting storm damage in some fields from hail and winds, but farmers said they were still thankful for the rain.

This was Saturday morning. It is coming back. Time will tell how it impacts yield. 2.5" at this location. At least 3in. a few miles south. pic.twitter.com/0qqgu1FYFv — Jenny Schweigert ?? (@JenSchweigert) June 21, 2021

Northwest Missouri. Luckily only a few fields got wind/hail damage. Thankful for the rain! pic.twitter.com/lhAkZqgxoK — Dustin Dale (@DustinDale83) June 21, 2021

While USDA says 70% of Mississippi's soybean crop is rated good to excellent, a 3-point decline in a week, farmers like Gentry Clark say too much moisture has been an issue. Clark says water has been a mainstay on fields since early June, and farmers now faced with crop loss from the excessive moisture. 

We might get to replant here sometime in the next month down in Mississippi. Been under water since June 9th. Finally starting to see it drop. Massive loss for us farmers down here pic.twitter.com/4AML7yDitc — Gentry Clark (@tractorman_8430) June 21, 2021