The condition of the US corn crop ticked modestly higher this past week, while the first soybean condition rating of the season was slightly below trade expectations.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the nationwide corn crop at 69% good to excellent as of Sunday, up a single point from last week and in line with the average pre-report trade guess. However, that was still well below last year’s 75% good to excellent rating for corn.
Meanwhile, the soybean crop was rated 67% good to excellent, close to previous years but still 1 point below the average trade guess. (The USDA made no comparison to the previous year).
The corn crop in the No. 1 production state of Iowa was rated 84% good to excellent, up 1 point from the previous week’s already strong rating. At 63% good to excellent, the condition of the Illinois crop was down 4 points on the week, while the Indiana crop held steady at 70%. The condition of the Michigan crop dropped a hefty 7 points to 53% good to excellent, but Ohio was up 5 points to 46%. The North Dakota corn crop improved 3 points to 51% good to excellent.
The soybean crop in the top production state of Illinois was below the national average at 59% good to excellent, while the Indiana crop was slightly above at 69% and Iowa well above at 81%. The Michigan and Ohio crops were well below the average at 54% and 50% good to excellent, respectively. The North Dakota soybean crop was rated 58% good to excellent.
An estimated 93% of the US corn was planted as of Sunday, up from 87% a week earlier and ahead of 90% last year but on par with the five-year average. Soybean planting was 84% done, compared to 76% a week earlier, 77% last year and 80% on average.
The American corn crop was 78% emerged as of Sunday, up from 67% a week earlier and 1 point ahead of average.
Soybean emergence advanced 13 points on the week to 63%, versus 53% last year and 57% on average.
