Crop condition ahead of last year

USDA said today that 75 percent of Nebraska’s corn crop is in good to excellent condition, an increase of 3 percent from two weeks ago and one point ahead of the rating at this time a year ago. That leaves 19 percent of the crop in fair condition and 6 percent rated poor to very poor.

Nationally, 65 percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition, which is ahead of last year’s 62 percent and notable considering the type of weather we saw early in the growing season. Other national numbers include 25 percent in fair condition and 10 percent poor to very poor, compared to 25 percent fair and 13 percent poor to very poor last year

Although in good condition, corn is a bit behind
Only 43 percent of the Nebraska's crop was silking as of this past week. A year ago, 73 percent of the crop was silking – and the five-year average has 63 percent. That means the crop is only about five days behind the average. A week ago only 13 percent of Nebraska’s crop was in silking stage, so progress has been rapid and will likely continue to be rapid since weather has been favorable in most parts of the state. Nationally, 34 percent of the crop is silking, compared to 72 percent last year and the five-year average of 60 percent.

For details on Nebraska’s crop, click here, or for USDA's report, click here.