US corn and soybean conditions deteriorated on above normal temperatures and below average precipitation in the latest week.
For the week ending 27 August, corn rated good to excellent (g/e) deteriorated to 58pc from 59pc the week prior, according to the latest report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The prior week's above average temperatures coupled with below average precipitation caused 10 out of the 18 reporting states crop conditions to deteriorate, representing 67pc of corn production, with Iowa representing one of the largest decreases at 54pc rated g/e compared with the prior week at 60pc. Illinois and Indiana were two of the larger corn producing states that had improvements in crop conditions, with Illinois currently at 67pc compared with last week at 64pc and Indiana at 67pc versus the prior week at 66pc. The remaining eight out of the 18 reporting states had g/e conditions improve.
Ten states in the South have begun to harvest corn, with Louisiana already at 97pc harvested compared with the five-year average of 74pc.
Soybeans had a similar situation, with 10 states showing deterioration in g/e conditions, six improved and two remaining constant. Of the 10 states with worsening g/e conditions, representing 64pc of soybean production, Michigan had the largest deterioration with 43pc rated g/e compared with 60pc the prior week.
Topsoil moisture further deteriorated with 17 out of the 21 states having increases in short to very short conditions. Iowa is now at 68pc short to very short compared with the prior week at 53pc and although Illinois saw improvements in corn and soybean conditions, its topsoil rated short to very short increased to 43pc compared with the prior week at 27pc. The 6–10-day outlook from the National Weather Service shows above average temperatures for the majority of the Midwest but near normal precipitation.
The spring wheat harvest continues with 54pc harvested compared with the five-year average of 63pc.
In next week's report, the USDA will begin to report the winter wheat planting progress though Washington and Wisconsin have already begun with 7pc and 1pc planted, respectively, compared with the five-year average of 9pc and 3pc, respectively.
