Status of 2021 Corn and Soybean Crops
The USDA Crop Progress Report released on September 20th documented corn and soybean crop conditions to September 19 th compared to 5-year averages. This past week 93 percent of corn was at the dent stage. Fifty seven percent of the corn crop was mature, 10 percent ahead of the 5-year average and the same as in 2020. For soybeans 58 percent of the crop was dropping leaves consistent with the 5-year average and 6 percent has been harvested.
Surface moisture levels were relatively lower on average during the past week over the corn-belt attaining an average of 35.2 percent for areas classified in the two lowest categories of “Short” and “Very short”. The severe drought in Western states and the Dakotas continues with extensive wildfires in the Northwest. Topsoil moisture in Iowa was down this past week at 40 percent compared to 35 percent last week in the two lowest moisture categories. Despite the variable levels of topsoil moisture among states, 59 percent of the corn crop was classified under the “Good” and “Excellent” categories by the USDA, higher by one percent from last week. The corresponding figure for soybeans was 58 percent, also up 1 percent from last week.
The ProFarmer Crop Tour completed three weeks ago, estimated corn yield to range from 175.2 to 178.8 bushels per acre with a mean value of 177.0 bushels per acre compared to the September WASDE value of 176.3 bushels per acre. This corresponded to a projected range for the 2021 corn harvest of 14.965 to 15.265 billion bushels with a mean value of 15.116 billion bushels compared to the September WASDE value of 14.996 billion bushels.
The ProFarmer Crop Tour estimated the soybean yield to range from 50.2 to 52.2 bushels per acre with a mean value of 51.2 bushels per acre compared to the September WASDE value of 50.6 bushels per acre. This corresponded to a projected range in the 2021 soybean harvest of 4.347 to 4.525 billion bushels with a mean value of 4.525 billion bushels compared to the September WASDE value of 4.374 billion bushels.
CHICK-NEWS and EGG-NEWS will report on the progress of the two major crops as monitored by the USDA through the end of the 2021 harvest in November.
Reference is made to the September 10th WASDE Report #616 and the Acreage Report retrievable under the STATS tab for projected 2021 acreage and yields. This data will be updated when WASDE #617 is released on Friday October 8th with a firmer projection of yields and ending stocks.
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WEEK ENDING
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Crop
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September 12th
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September 19th
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5-Year Average
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Corn Dough (%)
Corn Dented (%)
Corn Mature (%)
Corn Harvested (%)
|
100
87
37
4
|
100
93
57
10
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100
89
47
9
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Soybeans setting pods (%)
Soybeans Dropping leaves (%)
Soybeans Harvested (%)
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100
35
-
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100
58
6
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100
48
6
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Crop Condition
18 States
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V. Poor
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Poor
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Fair
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Good
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Excellent
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Corn 2021 (%)
Corn 2020 (%) 1
1. Late planting
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5
5
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10
9
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26
25
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45
47
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14
14
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Soybeans 2021 (%)
Soybeans 2020 (%)1
1. Late planting
|
4
3
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10
7
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28
27
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47
51
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11
12
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|
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Parameter 48 States
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V. Short
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Short
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Adequate
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Surplus
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Topsoil moisture %: Past Week*
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18
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32
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47
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3
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|
Past Year
|
14
|
28
|
54
|
4
|
|
Subsoil moisture %: Past Week
|
21
|
31
|
46
|
2
|
|
Past Year
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15
|
28
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53
|
4
|
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For topsoil moisture the major corn and soybean-producing states had an average of 35.2 percent in the “Very Short” and “Short” categories (last week 33 percent) with a range of 6 percent for PA to 51 percent for IN.
- Iowa 40% (was 35%)
- Illinois 38% (was 33%)
- Indiana 51% (was 47%)
- Kansas 49% (was 45%)
- Kentucky 18% (was 22%)
- Michigan 22% (was 38%)
- Missouri 43% (was 33%)
- Ohio 50% (was 40%)
- Pennsylvania 6% (was 4%)