Which States Won and Lost in the Latest USDA Crop Progress Report?

Based on the most recent condition ratings for corn and soybeans reported by USDA, there are clear “winners,” or states with the highest rated crops, and “losers,” or states with the lowest rated crops. 

Take a look at which states came out on top, and which have room to improve before harvest.

Corn

Winners: Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

As of Aug. 10, 80% or more of the corn crop in three of the nation’s top corn-growing states was in good or excellent shape. 

With 86% good/excellent corn, Iowa topped the list. In fact, the Corn Belt leader reported the most corn rated excellent since 2009.

Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were the other winners for corn condition. USDA rated 81% of Wisconsin’s corn crop and 80% of Pennsylvania’s corn crop good/excellent.

Losers: Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee

At the other end of the spectrum, three top states reported less than 60% of their crop in good or excellent shape. Michigan reported the lowest percentage of good/excellent corn: 51%.

The other two losers for corn condition were Ohio and Tennessee, which reported 55% and 59% good/excellent corn, respectively.

Soybeans

Winners: Louisiana, Iowa, Wisconsin

Three top soybean-growing states reported that more than 80% of their crop was in good or excellent shape, but one of them dominated. USDA reported that 92% of Louisiana’s soybean crop was in good/excellent condition. The rest of it was rated fair.

Iowa and Wisconsin were the other winners for soybean condition. USDA rated 81% of the soybean crop in both states good/excellent.

Losers: Michigan, Tennessee, Illinois

Soybean conditions in three of the top-growing states weren’t as favorable — good/excellent soybeans ranged from just 53% to 57% in Illinois, Michigan, and Tennessee.

As with its corn crop, Michigan’s soybeans were in the worst shape of all top-growing states. Just 53% of the Wolverine State’s soybeans were reported to be in good/excellent condition.

The other two losers for soybean condition, Illinois and Tennessee, had 57% and 55% good/excellent soybeans, respectively.

Phil Krieg, a Syngenta agronomist whose coverage area includes southern Illinois, offered some insight into soybean conditions in the Prairie State. “Overall soybean height will be shorter than average this year, but that does not always result in disappointing yields,” he said on Aug. 10.