Which States Lead and Which Lag?

The USDA reported the most recent condition ratings for corn and soybeans earlier this week. There are clear “winners” — states with the highest rated crops — and “losers” — states with the lowest rated crops. 

Read more about which states came out on top, and which are trending the wrong way just before harvest.

Corn

Winners: Iowa, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin

As of Aug. 31, 82% or more of the corn crop in three of the nation’s top corn-growing states were rated good or excellent shape. 

Iowa topped the list with 84% good/excellent corn.

Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were the other winners for corn condition. USDA rated 83% of Wisconsin’s corn crop and 82% of Pennsylvania’s corn crop good/excellent.

Losers: Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee

The three states at the bottom of the list ranged from 50–55% good/excellent corn condition.

The state with the lowest percentage of good/excellent corn was Kentucky with 50%. The other two losers for corn condition were Tennessee and Illinois at 54% and 55% good/excellent, respectively.

Soybeans

Winners: Louisiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota

There were four soybean-growing states where more than 77% of the crop was in good or excellent shape. One state was head and shoulders above the rest, with the USDA reporting that 92% of Louisiana’s soybean crop was in good/excellent condition. The rest of the crop was rated fair with none of the Louisiana soybean crop being rated very poor/poor.

Wisconsin was next on the list with 84% rated in good/excellent condition. Iowa and South Dakota rounded out the top of the list at 77% good/excellent each.

Losers: Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan

At the other end of the spectrum, three top-producing states reported 52% or less of their crop in good or excellent shape. Kentucky and Tennessee were tied for the lowest percentage of good/excellent soybeans: 42%.

The other loser for soybean condition was Michigan with 52% good/excellent.