Agricultural News
Corn Crop Ratings Slip Another Percentage Point in Latest Week
Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:44:29 CDT
The latest US Crop Progress report shows a further decline in the poor to very poor rating of the 2012 US Corn Crop, a slight uptick in the condition of the US Soybean Crop and a mixed bag for the US Cotton Crop. The US Pasture and Range ratings remained basically unchanged from a week earlier at 59% poor to very poor across the country.
Click here for the complete US Crop Progress report as issued on Monday afternoon, August 13, 2012.
Going crop by crop- we begin with Corn:
The poor to very poor ratings went up by one percentage point in this week's Crop Progress report- versus a week ago- standing at 51% poor to very poor. States that face the worst conditions for the 2012 corn crop include Missouri at 84% poor to very poor, Kentucky at 78%, Illinois at 75%, Indiana at 71% and Kansas at 70% poor to very poor ratings. The National Association of Corn Growers offered a "glass half full" spin on the report in their daily news update- here's how they called the latest report:
"In its weekly crop progress update today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture rated 23% percent of the nation's corn crop as good or excellent - the same rating as last week and an indication that corn quality has leveled off for the time being. Despite the challenges, the National Corn Growers Association reports, farmers have already begun harvesting crops in some areas. Expected production will still come in at more than 10 billion bushels, the eighth highest on record.
"We recognize the severity of the drought and we also recognize the need for patience and perspective as the season continues," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer, a grower in Illinois.
"Due in great part to an earlier planting, corn crop progress is ahead of schedule in many areas, Niemeyer noted. USDA tracks crop progress according to various stages of corn development, with 42 percent of the crop now in the dent stage, compared to an average of 16 percent at this time. Ten percent of the crop has reached maturity, the final stage before harvest, seven percentage points above the average.
"Last Friday, USDA estimated a 10.8 billion bushel corn crop with an average national yield of 123.4 bushels per acre. The next production estimate will be released Sept. 12."
One further note on corn- John Sanow of DTN declared in their report analysis that the rains of last week were clearly too little too late for most of the US corn crop.
Looking at the Soybean Crop Ratings-
The poor to very poor rating for the US Soybean crop improved ever so slightly- as the poor to very poor ratings were at 39% a week ago- this week they stand at 38%. Eighty-three percent of the soybean crop was setting pods as of Aug. 12, USDA said, compared to a five-year average of 70%. Apparently, there are some fields of soybeans that can be impacted in a positive way by rains and cooler temperatures.
In Iowa, the soybean crop improved in the weekly report for the first time in seven weeks. In Missouri, the crop is rated in 75% poor to very poor and is prematurely rushing to harvest. Soybeans blooming are 12 days ahead of normal. Soybeans setting pods and beyond are 1 week ahead of normal.
The US Cotton Crop is a mixed bag.
The poor to very poor ratings crept up to 28% this week- versus 27% a week ago. However, the good to excellent ratings for cotton also improved by one point as well- 42% good to excellent this week versus 41% a week ago. When you consisder just very poor ratings- the large Texas crop is number one- with 17% of their crop in that very poor rating. Oklahoma and Missouri both show 12% very poor conditions. When you combine very poor and poor- Oklahoma claims the dubious honor of the poorest crop in the US at this stage of the game- now at 62% poor to very poor, with both Texas and Missouri at 43% poor to very poor.
Finally- the US Pasture and Range conditions are even with a week ago- Missouri actually improved by one percentage point from 99% poor to very poor to 98% this week. Other poor to very poor ratings include New Mexico unchanged this week versus last at 85%, Kansas declines one point to 90%, Arkansas declines 2 points to 88%, Colorado declines three points to 86% and Oklahoma also declines by three percentage points to 79% poor to very poor.
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