Condition Ratings Fall for Corn and Soybeans as Drought Intensifies

Ninety six percent of the corn crop has emerged; five points above the historical average and two percent over last season’s pace. Subsoil moisture remains an issue for the US with 49 percent of cropland having less than adequate moisture. Iowa has adequate subsoil moisture for 29 percent of its fields and the condition of the Iowa corn crop declined 18 percent over the past week. The crop condition rating for all corn producing states fell as well. Crops seen in good to excellent condition slipped four points to 68 percent, 27 percent is considered in fair condition and five percent is rated poor to very poor.  This matches last season’s crop, which had ratings of 68 percent good to excellent and five percent poor to very poor.

The soybean crop is 94 percent planted, two…