Corn and soybean good-to-excellent condition ratings slipped slightly last week, according to the USDA’s weekly Crop Progress report. Corn silking reached 94 percent, just below the five-year average but ahead of last year. Corn in the dough stage stands at 58 percent, matching last year and the average. Overall, 72 percent of corn is rated good to excellent, down one point from last week but five points above last year. Soybean blooming reached 91 percent, just shy of the five-year average but above last year. Pod setting is at 71 percent. Soybeans are rated 68 percent good to excellent, down one point from last week but steady with last year. Winter wheat harvest is 90 percent complete nationally, slightly behind last year and the five-year average. Montana’s harvest advanced sharply to 40 percent. Spring wheat harvest jumped to 16 percent complete, matching last year but trailing the five-year average. Spring wheat condition improved slightly to 49 percent good to excellent, but remains well below last year’s 72 percent rating.
