Iowa has seen scattered reports of corn hitting the mature stage, while soybeans are reaching a critical stage of development.
The weekly Crop Progress and Conditions Report on Monday said corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 90% in the state, six days ahead of the 5-year average. Forty-seven percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage or beyond, four days ahead of normal. Some producers have begun chopping silage.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey has the season’s first national look at corn maturing.
?We are seeing four percent of the US corn mature on August 22nd,? said Rippey. ?Equal to the five year average of four percent and one percentage point behind last year?s five percent. The state that leads in corn maturity on August 22nd is South Dakota.?
Iowa soybeans setting pods reached 95%, eight days ahead of normal. Five percent of soybeans were coloring. There were a few reports of soybeans dropping leaves. Rippey says this year’s overall condition ratings for soybeans compares unfavorably with last year.
?We had more than two thirds of the crop ? 69% GTE ? on this date in 2020 and just 8 percent very poor to poor,? said Rippey. ?We?ve been focused a lot this summer on the Upper Midwestern states where conditions have been lower due to heat and drought. North Dakota came in this week with 52% of the soybeans rated very poor to poor.?
In Iowa, sudden death syndrome was observed in some soybean fields across the state.
