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Crop Conditions Deteriorating, Still 68% of Corn, 65% of Soybeans Rated Good to Excellent

The USDA's national good to excellent ratings for corn and soybeans both declined modestly over the past week. Some of the drier parts of the U.S. Midwest saw only scattered rainfall over the weekend, but condition ratings typically decline as crops get closer to harvest and both corn and beans remain in better shape than this time last year. 
 
As of Sunday, 68% of U.S. corn is rated good to excellent, 2% lower than last week, but up 6% from last year, with 85% at the dough making stage and 44% dented, both ahead of their respective five-year averages of 72% and 26%. 
 
65% of U.S. soybeans are called good to excellent, 1% less than a week ago, but 6% more than a year ago with 91% in the pod setting stage, compared to 83% on average. 
 
74% of U.S. spring wheat is in good to excellent condition, down 1% on the week, but up 40% on the year, with 60% of the crop harvested, compared to the usual pace of 44%. 
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Crop duster agplane flying action Conger Minnesota Air Tractor Bell 206 Jet Ranger Airailimages

Video: Crop duster agplane flying action Conger Minnesota Air Tractor Bell 206 Jet Ranger Airailimages

It's summertime in Minnesota as a yellow Air Tractor agricultural application aircraft -- a crop duster -- responds to the control inputs of its pilot in a low-altitude dance just above the tops of the cornstalks. Enjoy! And we found a Bell 206 Long Ranger spray helicopter perched on a support truck at the edge of the cornfields, and launching from there. In our video, you can occasionally hear the rotor sounds of the crop-dusting helicopter as we see the yellow Air Tractor in a nearby field.