Corn Crop Silking Ahead of Schedule in Key States, USDA Reports

Half of the nation’s top corn-growing states are reporting corn silking, according to the latest USDA Crop Progress report.

Overall, 4% of the nation’s crop reached the silking stage during the week that ended June 22, which is just ahead of the five-year average of 3%. Eight of the nine states reporting silking are ahead of their five-year averages, and the one that’s not ahead is on track.

Here’s a closer look at corn progress and conditions across the country, including input from farmers and agronomists.

Illinois

As of June 22, 1% of Illinois’ corn crop had reached the silking stage, which is ahead of the five-year average of 0%. By this time last year, progress had reached 1%.

Agronomist Ryan Gentle, whose territory includes much of western Illinois, said, “Corn conditions are very good in most areas.” He added, “I got my first picture of tassels in a late March-planted field by Springfield.” It’s worth noting that corn tassels typically emerge during the stage immediately before silking.

An abundance of tasseling and subsequent silking is expected very soon, Gentle enthusiastically reported. “With the warm temperatures and recent rains, there should be lots of tassels by the Fourth of July,” he said.

The condition of the crop in the Prairie State was reported by USDA as 74% good/excellent, 18% fair, and 8% poor/very poor.

Iowa

USDA said 2% of Iowa’s corn crop had reached the silking stage by June 22. Considering the five-year average is 0%, and progress a year ago was 0%, Iowa’s corn is notably ahead of schedule.

“Corn in southern Iowa looks very strong,” said Eric Wilson, an agronomist supporting southern and northeast Iowa. “Pollination [which occurs during the silking stage] is a ways off yet, but things are growing rapidly and overall look very, very good,” he said. 

Wilson said corn in Iowa’s northeast corner, though later planted, is exhibiting rapid growth. “Things look very good with the continued and in some places excessive rainfall,” he shared.

Kelly Garrett farms in Crawford County, on the western side of the state. “Our corn looks nice right now, [but] we are not in the silking stage yet,” said Garrett. His corn is still a few weeks out from that stage.

Garrett said he has a “bit of concern” about the heat in his area. “We did receive an inch of rain last week, which was very welcome,” he said on Saturday. “But the heat these last three days is over 100°F. There is some rolling up of corn in the heat of the day.”

The corn crop in Iowa is second only to that of North Carolina in terms of the good/excellent rating. USDA rated Iowa’s corn 83% good/excellent, 14% fair, and 3% poor/very poor. 

Kansas

A single-digit percentage of the corn crop in Kansas also reached the silking stage during the week that ended June 22: 5%. Although that’s on track with the five-year average, it’s behind the 10% progress a year ago.

USDA rated Kansas’ corn crop 65% good/excellent, 29% fair, and 6% poor/very poor.

Kentucky

Almost a tenth of the corn crop in the Bluegrass State had reached the silking stage per the report. With 9% of its crop at this stage, Kentucky is ahead of the five-year average by 4 percentage points and ahead of progress a year ago by 1 percentage point. 

Kentucky’s corn crop was rated by USDA as 68% good/excellent, 28% fair, and 4% poor/very poor.

Missouri

In Missouri, 5% of the corn crop had reached the silking stage by June 22, just ahead of the five-year average of 4%. Progress a year ago was notably greater, at 11%.

The condition of Missouri’s corn crop was rated 73% good/excellent, 21% fair, and 6% poor/very poor.

Nebraska

As of June 22, 1% of Nebraska’s corn crop had begun silking, USDA said, which is on track with progress a year ago and ahead of the five-year average of 0%.

USDA rated the Cornhusker State’s crop 70% good/excellent, 26% fair, and 4% poor.

North Carolina

One of three states with silking-stage corn in the double digits is North Carolina. With 48% of its crop at the silking stage, progress is significantly ahead of the five-year average of 31%. It’s also 8 points ahead of progress a year ago.

Kevin Matthews farms in northwestern North Carolina, near East Bend. “Early corn has begun to tassel and looks great,” Matthews said. He added a caveat though: “We have tremendous heat arriving during pollination.”

North Carolina has the highest-rated crop of all top corn-growing states. USDA rated North Carolina’s corn 85% good/excellent, 12% fair, and 3% poor/very poor.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, 29% of the corn crop reached the silking stage during the week that ended June 22, which is ahead of the five-year average by 13 points. Progress a year ago was 31%.

Tennessee’s corn crop was rated 67% good/excellent, 22% fair, and 11% poor/very poor by USDA.

Texas

Rounding out the nine states with corn at the silking stage is Texas, which reported the highest percentage — 67%. That’s ahead of the five-year average of 62% and 1 point higher than progress a year ago.

Only about half of the Lone Star State’s corn crop was rated better than fair. USDA rated Texas’ corn crop 52% good/excellent, 38% fair, and 10% poor/very poor.