Corn and soybean condition ratings showed a continued plunge in this week’s USDA crop progress report.  The amount of corn rated very-poor-to-poor increased another 8 percentage points.  This puts 30% of the crop in that category.  The amount of the crop rated good to excellent fell 8%, dropping the amount in that category to 40%.

As corn and soybean condition ratings fall, spring wheat conditions are also down slightly on the week.  On a national level, 66% of the crop is rated good-to-excellent.  That compares to last week’s 61%. 

Seventy-five percent of the nation’s winter wheat crop is now harvested compared to 58% at this time last year.

On a local level…

In Montana, winter wheat continues to progress ahead of average.  Fifty-one percent of the winter wheat crop has now turned.  This is a huge jump up from last week’s 16% and compared to last year’s 3%.  Fifty-five percent of the winter wheat crop is rated good-to-excellent, down 6% from last week.  The spring wheat crop, at 7%, has now also started to turn.  See full report…

In Wyoming, it’s been a huge week for the winter wheat harvest.  As of this past Sunday, 44% of the state’s winter wheat had been harvested.  That’s compared to 0% the week before.  Twelve percent of the state’s spring wheat has turned color as has 60% of the barley and 4% of the oats.  The amount of topsoil rated very-short-to-short is at 78% compared to 16% at this time last year.  See full report…

In North Dakota, showers and thunderstorms did provide some needed moisture in the past week.  Twenty-seven percent of the spring wheat crop was turning as of this past Sunday as was 7% of the durum wheat.  Condition ratings for the state’s spring wheat are above the national level with 74% of the crop rated good-to-excellent.  Poor hay conditions to remain a concern.  See full report…

In South Dakota, the winter wheat harvest jumped up 30 percentage points in the last week to now be 41% harvested.  Ninety-two percent of the spring wheat has turned and 10% is ripe.  Condition ratings, at 58% good-to-excellent, are slightly below the national average.  The barley crop is also nearing that end point with 78% having turned color by this past Sunday.  Five percent of the crop is considered to be ripe. See full report…

© Northern Ag Network 2012
Haylie Shipp