BrownfieldAgNews reports:
The USDA’s national crop condition ratings generally declined over the past week. That followed another week of widely variable weather in many key growing areas, ranging from near ideal, to hotter and drier, with heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the region.
The USDA says 72% of corn is in good to excellent shape, down 1% on the week, with 94% of the crop silking, 58% at the dough making stage, and 14% dented, all close to average.
68% of soybeans are good to excellent, 1% lower, and 91% of the crop is blooming with 71% at the pod setting stage.
90% of winter wheat is harvested, compared to the five-year average of 91%.
49% of spring wheat is called good to excellent, up 1%, and 16% is harvested, compared to the normal rate of 22%.
53% of cotton is in good to excellent condition, a decline of 2%, with 93% squaring, 65% setting bolls, and 8% of bolls opening.
76% of rice is reported as good to excellent, 2% under the previous week, with 85% headed and 11% harvested, both ahead of the usual rates.
66% of sorghum is seen as good to excellent, unchanged, with 65% headed and 29% coloring.
39% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are good to excellent, dropping 4% from the week before.
