Single Digit Corn Silking in 8 States, Says USDA

In the Crop Progress report for the week ending July 6, the USDA reported that eight states have single digit corn silking. With four of those eight states reporting silking for the first time this season, now all top corn-producing states have corn at the silking stage.

Colorado

According to the USDA, 1% of Colorado’s corn was silking as of July 6. It was the first silking reported for the state this season. Last year at this time, 3% of the state’s corn was silking, the same as the five-year average.

The USDA rated a notable 90% of Colorado’s corn crop good/excellent. As for the rest, 9% was rated fair, while 1% was rated poor. None was in very poor condition.

Michigan

The USDA reported Monday 8% of Michigan’s corn was silking, a significant jump from no silking reported the week prior. That’s notably ahead of the five-year average of 2%. Last year at this time, 8% was silking.

The USDA rated 56% of Michigan’s corn good/excellent, 35% fair, and 9% poor/very poor.

Minnesota

As of July 6, 6% of Minnesota’s corn was silking, an increase of 5 percentage points since the week prior. Progress is just ahead compared to last year at this time, when silking had reached 4%. Silking progress is right on track with the five-year average.

The USDA rated 74% of Minnesota’s corn good/excellent, 20% fair, and 6% poor/very poor.

North Dakota

As for North Dakota, the USDA reported that 4% of the state’s corn was silking as of July 6, which was an increase of 3 percentage points for the week. That’s ahead of both last year’s progress and the five-year average by 1 percentage point.

Corn in North Dakota was rated as follows: 62% good/excellent, 31% fair, and 7% poor/very poor.

Ohio

In Ohio, 8% of the corn crop was silking as of July 6, an increase of 6 percentage points since the week prior. Last year at this time, 13% of the crop was silking, but the five-year average is only 6%.

The USDA rated 57% of the Buckeye State’s corn good/excellent, 37% fair, and 6% poor/very poor.

Pennsylvania

As of the week ending July 6, 2% of Pennsylvania’s corn was silking, the first reported for the state this season. Four percent corn silking was reported for the state at this time a year ago, while the five-year average is 1%.

The condition of Pennsylvania’s corn as of July 6 was 78% good/excellent, 20% fair, and 2% poor/very poor.

South Dakota

The USDA reported that 3% of South Dakota’s corn was silking as of July 6, up from 1% the week prior. Progress is right on track with that reported a year ago and the five-year average.

According to the USDA, 72% of South Dakota’s corn was rated good/excellent, 24% was rated fair, and just 4% was rated poor/very poor.  

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, 1% of the corn crop was silking as of July 6, compared to none reported the week prior. That’s 2 percentage points and 1 percentage point behind this time last year and the five-year average, respectively. 

The USDA rated 77% of Wisconsin’s corn good/excellent, 19% fair, and 4% poor/very poor.