August 19, 2008
US corn crop slow compared to last year but developing rapidly
About 68 percent of the US corn crop was deemed to be in either good or excellent condition in the week ended Aug. 17, the same as the week earlier, but ahead of last year's crop, which was rated 58 percent good or excellent at this time a year ago, USDA reports.
In its weekly crop progress report, USDA indicated that the corn crop continued to lag the averages developmentally.
While nearly all of the corn crop is at or past the silking stage, only 49 percent has reached the dough stage, compared with 77 percent a year ago and 68 percent on average for the years 2003 to 2007.
Only 14 percent has reached the dented stage, compared with 38 percent at this time a year ago, and 30 percent on average for the last five years, USDA reported.
On the other hand, the corn crop is progressing rapidly-- the 49-percent reaching the dough stage by Aug. 17, would be far ahead of the week earlier results, when only 30 percent had reached dough stage.
For the dented stage the 14-percent that has reached that stage as of Aug. 17, is also a significant leap compared to just 6 percent a week earlier.
However, an early frost in key corn-producing state could affect production on the delayed crop if the cobs were not sufficiently developed by then.
