Crop in Louisiana still leads the nation
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Almost one-third of the 2018 U.S. soybean crop has set pods.
About 26 per cent of soybeans have set pods across the 18 primary soybean-producing states, the USDA’s July 17 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin report says. That figure represents a 15 percent increase from last week.
On a state level, soybean fields in Louisiana lead the nation in terms of development.
About 82 per cent of the crops in the state have set pods. That number is up from 75 per cent.
Soybeans in Michigan and South Dakota have set nine per cent of their pods. Those are the lowest figures in the U.S.
The USDA ranked 69 per cent of the national soybean crop as good to excellent.
Corn
The American corn crop continues to silk.
About 63 per cent of the national corn crop has silked, the USDA says. That number is up from 37 per cent last week.
Corn in Tennessee and Missouri are 91 per cent silked, which represents the most progress in the country.
Corn in Colorado is 17 per cent silked, which is the lowest among the 18 states documented.
The USDA ranked 72 per cent of the 2018 corn crop as good to excellent.
Wheat
Farmers continue to harvest the 2018 winter wheat crop.
Producers have combined about 74 per cent of the national winter wheat acres, the USDA says. That number represents an 11 per cent increase from last week.
Growers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri have completed their winter wheat harvests, while farmers in Montana are yet to harvest any wheat.
The 2018 spring wheat crop has almost completely headed.
About 93 per cent of the spring wheat has headed. That number is up from 81 per cent last week.
The spring wheat crop in Washington is completely headed, with crops in Minnesota and the Dakotas not far behind.
The spring wheat in Montana is 83 per cent headed, which is the lowest among the six states recorded.
The USDA ranked 80 per cent of the spring wheat as good to excellent.
Suitable fieldwork days
California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware and Maryland recorded seven suitable fieldwork days for the week ending July 15.
During that week, the states with the fewest suitable fieldwork days were:
Minnesota – 4.7
Nevada – 4.9
Louisiana – 5
Weekly precipitation levels
State | Precipitation (inches) | Weather Station |
Illinois | 3.64 | Moline |
Indiana | 0.17 | Evansville |
Iowa | 1.61 | Dubuqe |
Kentucky | 0.20 | Paducah |
Michigan | 1.16 | Houghton Lake |
Missouri | 0.53 | Saint Louis |
New York | 0.53 | Binghamton |
Pennsylvania | 1.20 | Wilkes-Barre |
Tennessee | 1.71 | Chattanooga |
The next Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin will be released July 24.