Finally – A Dry(ish) Week

This past week was dry relative to previous weeks, allowing for a productive week for farmers. Fieldwork included harvesting hay and small grains, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Corn silking was 40 percent complete, five days ahead of last year and three days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn in the dough stage reached 4 percent. Condition rated 61 percent good to excellent, up 3 percentage points from last week.

Soybeans blooming was 47 percent, two days behind last year and four days behind average. Fourteen percent of soybeans were setting pods. Soybean condition was 60 percent good to excellent, up 4 percentage points from last week.

The core production states — aka “I states” — also saw improvements in corn and soybeans, indicating a good harvest this fall, says market advisor John Heinberg with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend.

“Now you’ve seen some of the best areas improve their crop conditions… as long as the weather continues, that’s the biggest thing we’ve got to watch,” Heinberg says. “A little talk of heat coming in, drying out the first part of August. I think that was also a factor in the soybean market, as everybody says, beans are made in August.”

Oats heading was 96 percent and 74 percent of the crop was coloring. Growers harvested 12 percent of the oat for grain crop. Oat condition was 78 percent good to excellent, unchanged from last week.

Winter wheat harvested for grain was 31 percent complete, four days ahead of both last year and the average. Winter wheat condition rated 81 percent good to excellent, unchanged from last week.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 78 percent complete, eight days behind last year and two days behind average. All hay condition increased to 75 percent good to excellent, up 4 percentage points from last week.

The potato harvest was 9 percent complete. Potato condition increased to 89 percent good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from last week. Pasture and range condition decreased to 70 percent good to excellent, down 1 percentage point from last week.