Crop Quality in the Midwest: Most States Soar, Some Flounder

Iowa corn quality leads the nation currently, with 83% of the state’s crop rated good to excellent. North Dakota is on the struggle bus for both corn and soybeans.

Rain drops on corn leaves weather wet young corn field - Lindsey Pound
Rain drops on corn leaves.
(Lindsey Pound)

If you want a quick update on how Midwest corn and soybeans are faring this season, check out the farmdoc 1-minute weekly report, which highlights USDA-NASS data. For the week ending June 22, the report indicates above-average conditions for most of the corn and soybean crops across the region.

Corn Overview
Iowa corn quality leads the nation currently, with 83% of the state’s crop rated good to excellent. Corn quality in Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin also showed positive moves.

States including Indiana and North Dakota saw a drop in corn quality. Indiana lost four points, dropping to 64% rated good to excellent. North Dakota fell nine points, dropping to 55% of the state’s crop rated good to excellent. Michigan’s corn crop is at 57% good to excellent.

Compared to five-year averages, Illinois corn is 16 points above average, Missouri is up 13 percentage points and Minnesota quality is up 12 points.

Crops in Good to Excellent Condition_Corn.jpg
(USDA)

Soybeans Overview
According to the report, Iowa leads the Midwest with 77% of the state’s soybeans rated good to excellent, closely followed by Minnesota at 76%. Kansas improved by four points this past week to reach 65% of soybeans rated good to excellent. Minnesota was up 2% and Wisconsin moved up 1% in quality.

States that saw soybean quality drop included Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. North Dakota took the largest hit in soybean quality, dropping six percentage points to 57% of the state’s soybeans rated good to excellent. Ohio’s soybean crop is also at 57% good to excellent.

For the five-year averages, notable results included Michigan soybeans, which are up 9 percentage points. Nebraska and Ohio also saw increases in their five-year averages.

States that are seeing a double-digit loss of quality so far, per their five-year averages, are Minnesota (-13) and Missouri (-12).

Crops in Good to Excellent Condition_Soybeans.jpg
(USDA)

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