The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released the crop progress report for Minnesota and Iowa for the week ending August 18th. Field activities included small grain harvest, cutting and bailing hay and preparing for fall harvest.
In Minnesota, corn silking was 95%, with 62% in dough stage, 3 days behind average and 6% was in the dent stage. The corn crop has just begun to mature. Corn was rated 61% good to excellent, a 2% increase from last week. Iowa corn was 82% in the dough stage or beyond, 2 days ahead of average, with 28% reaching the dent stage. Corn has just begun to mature and 77% of corn was rated good to excellent, the same compared to last week.
Soybeans in Minnesota are 96% blooming, with 78% setting pods, 9 days behind average. Soybeans were rated 64% good to excellent, a 2% increase from last week. Iowa soybeans were 96% blooming, with 83% setting pods, 3 days behind the 5 year average. Soybeans have just begun turning color. Iowa soybeans were rated 77% good to excellent, the same compared to last week.