Analysts were expecting USDA to dock corn quality a point for the week ending July 5, but the agency made even bigger cuts in its latest weekly crop progress report, out Monday afternoon. There was a small shift in soybean quality as well, but ratings held mostly steady compared to the prior week.
Corn quality ratings moved from 73% in good-to-excellent condition down to 71% after corn rated “excellent” gained a point while corn rated “good” lost three points, accounting for the net loss of two points. Another 23% of the crop is rated fair (up one point from last week), with the remaining 6% rated poor or very poor (also up one point from a week ago).
Physiologically, 10% of this year’s crop has reached the silking stage up from 4% a week ago. That’s ahead of 2019’s pace of 7% but behind the prior five-year average of 16%.
Soybean crop quality held mostly steady last week, with 71% of the crop in good-to-excellent condition, although the split moved from 58/13 to 57/14. Analysts thought USDA would lower quality ratings a point, in contrast. Another 24% of the crop is rated fair, with the remaining 5% rated poor or very poor – unchanged from a week ago.
Physiologically, 31% of the crop is now blooming, up from 14% last week. This year’s pace well ahead of 2019’s mark of 8% and moderately ahead of the prior five-year average of 24%. And 2% of the crop is setting pods, versus 1% the same time last year and the prior five-year average of 4%.
Winter wheat quality ratings dropped a point this past week, moving from 52% in good-to-excellent condition down to 51%. Another 32% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 17% rated poor or very poor (up a point from last week).
Harvest gained some momentum, moving from 41% completion a week ago up to 56% through July 5, which was consistent with trade expectations. This year’s pace is moderately ahead of 2019’s 42% and right in line with the prior five-year average of 55%.
Spring wheat quality ratings moved a point higher, with 70% of the crop now rated in good-to-excellent condition. Another 24% of the crop is rated fair (down a point from last week), with the remaining 6% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from last week).
And 63% of this year’s spring wheat crop is now headed, jumping up from 36% a week ago. That’s still well above 2019’s pace of 47% but behind the prior five-year average of 68%.
Click here to read the latest USDA crop progress report in its entirety for additional data on sorghum, cotton, rice, barley, pasture conditions and more.