Corn's national condition stayed at 70% good to excellent in Monday's USDA crop progress report and soybeans stayed at 63%, although their excellent rating gained 1 point and good slipped one.
Spring wheat harvest reached 28%, versus the 20% average, with top producer North Dakota at 16% versus the 17% average.
Winter wheat harvest advanced to 97% from 93%, with the remaining fields largely across the northern edge of the country. A year ago harvest was 94% while the average is 90%,
In top producer Iowa, corn stayed at 83% good to excellent, Illinois remained at 56% and Indiana stayed at 47%.
"Another week of minimal rain showers and hot temperatures has dried the remaining wet spots and led farmers to run irrigation systems to keep crops from drying out," the Indiana report said. "Previously flooded areas have completely dissipated. Crops are beginning to show small to moderate stress levels in sandy and coarse soils."
Nationwide, 9% of the corn had dented, behind the 15% average, while 50% was in the dough stage, versus the 49% average. Soybeans were at 69% in setting pods, versus 70% a year ago and the 66% average.
"Crops starting to show stress from the dry conditions benefited from rainfall in some areas of the state," the Illinois report said.
In Washington, where dry conditions have been a problem, spring wheat slipped to 17% good from 18% last week. North Dakota's wheat stayed at 81% good to excellent.
Sorghum was 72% headed versus the 64% average and 32% was coloring versus the 33% average. The condition slipped to 67% good to excellent from last week's 68%.
Cotton was at 68% setting bolls with 7% bolls opening versus the respective averages 79% and 8%. It was rated 56% good/excellent, down 1 point from a week ago.
Source - http://farmfutures.com
