Agricultural News
Corn, Soybean Crops Continue to Make Good Progress, USDA Report Says
Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:45:35 CDT
The U.S. corn and soybean crops continued to make steady progress toward full maturity last week while remaining in good condition, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released Monday. The percentage of the corn crop doughing increased by 18 points last week, narrowing the amount by which this crop's maturation lags the five-year average by four points. Reports also indicate that the crop condition remains nearly unchanged from the previous week with 59 percent of the crop forecast to be in good-to-excellent condition. Last year at this time, only 22 percent of the crop still fared as well.
"While the crop condition remains strong, farmers understand how weather can play an important role at any point during season," said National Corn Growers Association President Pam Johnson, a grower in Floyd, Iowa. "Despite wet, cool conditions this spring and, for some, this summer, farmers forged ahead to plant a near-record number of corn acres. Now, they face varied conditions across the Corn Belt. Should favorable weather continue to fuel growth and maintain quality, U.S. corn farmers could produce a record crop in 2013."
Currently, 86 percent of all corn acres are forecast to be in fair-to-excellent condition, with only 14 percent rated in poor or very poor condition. The crop condition forecast remained largely unchanged from a week prior, with only two percentage points falling out of the good and excellent rankings. This stands in stark contrast to condition forecasts at this time in 2012, which fell continuously as high temperatures and dry conditions hit large portions of the Corn Belt.
This week's corn denting reports indicated that 22 percent of the crop had reached that stage of maturity by August 25, an 11 point increase from the previous week. This trails the five-year average of 45 percent by 22 points, widening the lag behind the five year-average by three points over the past week. The delay in maturation is to be expected given planting delays this spring.
To view the full report released Monday, click here.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...