July 26, 2012

In the latest Crop Progress data from the USDA for the week ended July 22, US corn and soy crop's continuous deterioration was evident as well as the modest decline of spring wheat crop.

Row crops have been under assault by a severe drought that is considered the worst in more than 50 years. Damage to the corn crop is viewed as probably irreversible while the soy crop is still at a stage where rainfall may improve crop conditions.

In the 18 major corn growing states, a total of 26% of the corn crop was rated good to excellent, down from 31% the previous week, the USDA said. The proportion of the crop that was very poor to poor surged to 45% as of July 22, up from 38% in the previous week. A year ago in the same week, 62% of the crop was rated good to excellent and only 14% was very poor to poor.

As of July 22, a total of 31% of the soy crop was rated good to excellent in the 18 major soy growing states, down from 34% the previous week, the USDA said. A total of 35% of the crop was in very poor to poor condition during the latest week, up from 30% very poor to poor in the previous week. In the same week a year ago, 62% of the soy crop was rated good to excellent and only 11% was very poor to poor.

In contrast to corn and soy, the condition of the spring wheat crop remained strong, although not as favourable as a year ago. The USDA said 60% was in good to excellent condition in the six major spring wheat states, down from 65% in the previous week and 74% at the same time a year ago. A total of 11% of the crop was in very poor to poor condition as of July 22, up from 8% in the previous week and 5% in the same week a year ago, the USDA said.

A majority of the 2012 corn crop has gone through the silking stage as of July 22, well ahead of average. A total of 86% of the crop had silked as of July 22, up from 56% in the same week a year ago and 59% as the 2007-11 average for the date. A total of 22% of the crop had reached the dough stage in the latest week, up from 7% in the same week a year ago and 9% as the five-year average. About 6% of the crop was dented in the 18 states, up from 2% a year ago and as the 2007-11 average, the USDA said.

Soys have been blooming ahead of schedule in 2012. In the 18 major soy states, a total of 79% of the crop had bloomed, up from 54% in the same week a year ago and above the average in 2007-11 of 60%. The pod setting stage had been reached in 36% of the crop, up sharply from 13% in the same week a year ago and from 19% in 2007-11.

The spring wheat harvest was under way ahead of schedule, the USDA said. In the six main spring wheat states, 12% of the crop had been harvested as of July 22, up from zero as of July 22, 2011, and as the 2007-11 average.

The spring wheat harvest was under way ahead of schedule, the USDA said. In the six main spring wheat states, 12% of the crop had been harvested as of July 22, up from zero as of July 22, 2011, and as the 2007-11 average.