U.S. soybeans continue to drop leaves

Soybeans in Louisiana lead the country

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Fields across the U.S. continue to inch closer to being ready for harvest.

About 16 percent of the 2018 American soybean crop has dropped its leaves, the USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin says. That number represents a 9 percent increase from last week.

Soybeans in Louisiana have dropped 65 percent of their leaves, which is the highest amount among the 18 primary production states. Soybeans in Missouri have dropped 2 percent of their leaves, which is the lowest reported figure.

The USDA ranked 66 percent of the American soybean crop as in good or excellent condition.

Corn

American corn fields continue to mature.

About 22 percent of the 2018 corn crop is mature, the USDA says. That number is up from 10 percent last week.

Corn in North Carolina is 80 percent mature, which is the highest progress among the 18 documented states. Pennsylvania corn is only 1 percent mature, which is on par with this time last year.

The USDA ranked 67 percent of the corn crop as in good or excellent condition.

Wheat

U.S. farmers continue to harvest the 2018 spring wheat crop.

Growers have combined about 87 percent of spring wheat acres, the USDA says. That number is up from 77 percent last week.

South Dakota farmers are almost (99 percent) finished their spring wheat harvest, which is the highest progress among the six documented states. Farmers in Idaho have combined 73 percent of their spring wheat, which is the lowest number in the country.

Suitable fieldwork days

Farmers in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Hampshire and Maine had seven suitable fieldwork days for the week ending Sept. 2.

During that same week, farmers in Wisconsin (2.6), Iowa (2.7) and Michigan (3.6) experienced the fewest days suitable for fieldwork.

Weekly precipitation levels

The next Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin will be released Sept. 11.