BrownfieldAgNews reports:
The USDA’s national crop ratings were mixed over the past week.
That followed another week of widely variable weather in key growing areas, ranging from nearly ideal conditions to severe storms and flooding to hotter than normal temperatures.
The corn rating did hold at 74% good to excellent, with 56% of the crop silking and 14% at the dough making stage, both close to the respective five-year averages.
68% of soybeans are good to excellent, down 2%, with 62% blooming and 26% at the pod setting stage, also both close to their respective averages.
73% of winter wheat is harvested, compared to 72% normally in late July.
52% of spring wheat is in good to excellent shape, 2% lower than last week, and 87% has headed.
57% of cotton is good to excellent, 3% higher, and 71% is squaring, with 33% setting bolls.
69% of rice is reported as good to excellent, a gain of 2%, and 46% has headed.
68% of sorghum is in good to excellent condition, 1% under a week ago, with 28% headed and 17% turning color, both behind their typical rates.
43% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are good to excellent, a decline of 3% on the week.
The USDA’s weekly national crop progress and condition reports run through the end of November.
