Where’s the Best Corn in the Country Right Now?

In its latest Crop Progress report, the USDA rated more than 80% of the corn crop in three of the top 18 corn-growing states good/excellent. What’s more, that percentage in a third of the 18 states is at least 75%.

Nationwide, 73% of the corn crop was rated good/excellent, the highest percentage all season. Take a look at the six states that boosted that percentage during the week that ended June 29.

Pennsylvania

With 86% of its crop rated good/excellent — 30% of that falling into the excellent category — Pennsylvania has the best corn in the country.

Just 12% of the state’s crop was rated fair, and 2% was rated poor. None of Pennsylvania’s corn was rated very poor. 

None of the crop in Pennsylvania had reached the silking stage by June 29, according to USDA’s reporting. That’s typical for the Keystone State.

Iowa

Iowa’s corn condition came in a close second to Pennsylvania’s. For the week that ended June 29, 85% of the corn in Iowa was rated good/excellent.

As for the rest, 13% was rated fair, and 2% was rated poor. None was rated very poor.

“Our crop looks perfect right now. I couldn’t be happier,” said Kelly Garrett, a Crawford County farmer. Garrett described ideal temperatures recently, and a few inches of rain, which have factored into the outstanding crop.

Wyffels Agronomist Eric Wilson said much of his area, which includes southern and northeast Iowa, received rain over the last week. “Corn looks very good and is progressing quickly with the temperatures we have had,” Wilson said. 

“Corn looks really good throughout my territory,” said Logan Dinkla, a Syngenta agronomist whose territory includes much of west Iowa. “The heat and rainfall the last two weeks has accelerated corn growth,” he said.

Three percent of Iowa’s corn had reached the silking stage by June 29, ahead of the five-year average of 2%.

North Carolina

North Carolina rounds out the three states with more than 80% good/excellent corn. Almost a quarter of the state’s corn was rated excellent, second in that category only to Pennsylvania. 

Overall, 82% was rated good/excellent, 13% was rated fair, and 5% was rated poor/very poor.

By June 29, 67% of North Carolina’s corn had reached the silking stage, a jump of 19 percentage points from the week prior. Progress was reported ahead of the five-year average by a notable 16 percentage points.

Nebraska

In Nebraska, 77% of the corn crop was rated good/excellent by USDA. One-fifth was rated fair, and just 3% was rated poor/very poor.

Syngenta Agronomist Travis Gustafson said corn is growing rapidly in Nebraska. “We are getting plenty of heat and have had adequate moisture to promote good stress-free growth,” he said.

Two percent of Nebraska’s corn had reached the silking stage as of the latest report, which is just ahead of the five-year average of 1%.

Colorado

USDA rated 76% of the corn in Colorado good/excellent. As for the rest, 10% of the crop was in fair condition, and 14% was in poor/very poor condition.

None of Colorado’s corn had reached the silking stage by June 29, which is normal for the state.

Wisconsin

Finally, 75% of Wisconsin’s corn was rated good/excellent by USDA. Most of the rest, 21%, was rated fair. Four percent of the crop was rated poor/very poor.

Conditions vary from the north to the south, according to Syngenta Agronomist Nick Groth. “Crop conditions may be slipping in parts of northern Wisconsin, where they continue to receive too much rainfall,” Groth said. “Southern Wisconsin has had more sporadic rainfall, and the crop has really not suffered from too much or too little rain,” he explained.

None of Wisconsin’s corn had reached the silking stage by June 29, which is normal for the state.