Despite recent weather, US crops making steady progress with corn silking now at 41%

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US crops continue to be making steady progress despite the recent stormy weather and elevated temperatures persisting with there now being 41% of corn silking and 51% of soybeans blooming, according to the latest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly crop progress report.

For the corn crop, this current pace of silking is above the 40% rate achieved in 2023 as well as the five-year average of 32%.

Corn reaching the dough stage is now at 8% of the crop, which is ahead of the 6% achieved last year and the five-year average of 4%.

For corn conditions, the USDA showed them as unchanged week on week with there still being 3% of the crop rated as very poor and 6% as poor, with 23% considered fair, 52% labeled as good and 16% as excellent.

For soybeans, there is 51% of the acreage which has reached blooming, which is equal to the 51% mark from 2023 but the current pace of the crop is ahead of the five-year average of 44%.

Soybean acreage which is setting pods increased to 18%, which is slightly above the 17% level seen last season and is higher than the five-year average of 12%.

For soybean conditions, there continues to be 2% of the crop viewed as very poor with 6% remaining as poor, with 24% still considered fair.

The USDA now lists 56% of the acreage as good with there now being 12% viewed as excellent.

In harvesting updates, the crop report reflects that winter wheat is now 71% completed, which is farther along than 53% achieved in 2023 and above the five-year average of 62%.

Currently, Arkansas and Oklahoma have finished their acreage, followed closely by several states now at 97% completed, including Missouri and Texas.